HPV

Genital HPV is an infection caused by human papillomavirus, a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different types of diseases, 30 that are transmitted sexually. They can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus and the linings of the vagina, cervix, and rectum.

How do you get it?

HPV is spread primarily through genital contact.

Symptoms

Most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know that they are infected. The virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually causes no symptoms.

Some people get visible genital warts, which usually appear as soft, most, pink or flesh-colored swellings. They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large and sometimes cauliflower shaped. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina and anus, on the cervix or penis and scrotum, and on the groin or thigh.

Complications

HPV may lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis.

Testing/Diagnosis

Women are usually diagnosed through an abnormal Pap test. HPV is also diagnosed by visual inspection of genital warts. There are as yet no tests available for men without genital warts.

Treatment

There is no cure for HPV. Treatments are aimed at the changes in the skin or mucous membranes, such as warts or pre-cancerous changes in the cervix.

Resources: Heritage House '76, Inc.