How Does the HPV Virus Spread?
Other People Are Reading
-
The Virus
-
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to genital warts and cancer. It is the most common of all sexually transmitted infections, has 130 identified strains, and is spread through skin and genital contact with an infected person. There are 20 million people with HPV in the United States alone, with six million new infections annually. While most strains of HPV do not cause any ill effects, certain strains do lead to cervical cancer and genital warts and, less frequently, other forms of genital cancers in both men and women.
Sexual Transmission
-
The HPV virus can infect the mucous membranes of the rectal and vaginal areas during sexual intercourse or sexual play. While using a condom during sex does significantly cut down on the transmission of HPV virus, the fact that it can be present on genital areas that a condom does not cover means condoms do not fully prevent its spread. It is said that 50% of all people will contract HPV at some point in their lives, but due to the fact that many people are asymptomatic and never know they are infected, it is important to exercise caution and use protection with all sexual partners.
-
Mother-to-Child Transmission
-
While the vast majority of people with HPV are infected during the course of unprotected vaginal and anal sex, some infants are infected with the virus by their mothers during childbirth. This is a rare way to spread the HPV virus and accounts for only a small percentage of infections. As a result of contracting HPV through childbirth, infants may develop warts in their throats, requiring treatment by a physician. Some people recommend a cesarean delivery for infected mothers, but there is debate as to whether or not this type of delivery prevents transmission from mother to child.
Carriers
-
The only visible sign of HPV virus is genital warts, which only occurs in a small percentage of people who actually carry the virus. Most women find out they are carriers of the virus through routine pap smears when the mucus membranes of the cervix are swabbed and cultured to scan for reproductive diseases. The majority of infected men never find out they have HPV as there are no routine checks for the virus in males, and the associated male genital cancers are exceedingly rare. The strain of HPV that causes genital warts does not cause the HPV-related cancers, but more than one strain of HPV can be transmitted to a person and be present at the same time. Because it is often impossible to know if a person carries HPV, it is best to practice safe sex with all sexual partners to avoid transmission.
-
