How Does One Catch HPV?
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HPV
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HPV is the acronym for Human Papillomavirus; it is actually just the name of a virus group that has over 100 different types of viruses. Out of the 100 forms of viruses included in the HPV group, over 40 of the viruses are sexually transmitted, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HPV is very common and it usually infects the genital areas of men and women; however, the virus can be found in your mouth and throat.
Contracting HPV
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HPV is essentially a sexually transmitted disease. For example, if you have oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex with someone who is infected with HPV, you are at risk of contracting the infection. HPV can be found in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. You can be infected with HPV for years without showing any signs or symptoms, and you can also infect your sexual partners without ever knowing you did. 20 million people are infected with HPV in the United States, and there will be 6 million new cases diagnosed every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV can be very detrimental to a man or a woman's health. Men are susceptible to genital warts, penile and anal cancer, if they have sex with a man who is infected with HPV. A woman is at risk of contracting genital warts and cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer. In early 2009, there was still no cure for HPV.
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HPV Symptoms
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Your body has the ability to fight off HPV, but in cases where the body does not win, HPV can cause genital warts and certain forms of cancer. Besides an abnormal pap smear and genital warts, there are not really any other symptoms related to HPV. However, the virus will alter certain cells in your cervix and a pap smear can detect those changes. There is actually a HPV test that can be given in conjunction with your regular pap smear, but the test is commonly reserved for women who are over the age of 30. According to Qiagen, women under 30 are not required to take the HPV test because the infection is thought to go away on its own before it can cause any serious medical conditions. There is not a test to detect HPV in men.
HPV Vaccines
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There are two vaccines available that can decrease HPV risks in men and women. Cervarix can be given to a woman to protect her from the HPV that is related to cervical cancer. Gardasil can be given to a man or a woman to protect them both from genital warts.
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