Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 100 types of viruses that causes warts and skin legions. High-risk types can lead to cervical and anal cancers. It is a sexually transmitted virus, passed through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or oral sex.
History
Research shows HPV infections were recognized as early as ancient Greece and Rome. Medical records described lesions on the genitalia that match HPV-induced genital warts.The authors of these writings recognized the association of the lesions with sexual activity, despite not recognizing the association with the virus. However, it was not until the 1970s that researchers identified HPV and linked it to genital warts and cancers.
The Facts
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 5.5 million genital HPV cases occur each year. It is the major risk factor for cervical and anal cancer, yet fewer than 1 percent of women actually are diagnosed with cervical cancer. It takes many years for the virus-infected cells to turn into cancerous ones. By age 50, 75 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV.
Geography
The incidence of cervical cancer in the United States in less than 10 per 100,000, but for each of those cases, there are 50 cases of HPV lesions. However, in underdeveloped countries such as in Africa and Latin America, the risk for cervical cancer is much higher---up to 10,000 per 100,000 women.
Features
A common form of HPV is genital warts, which is usually not cancerous. The warts can be obvious or completely microscopic. They can develop in areas that are hard to see, like the vagina. Some may be itchy, but most warts do not cause symptoms. The Pap smear test will determine changes in the cervix and can determine whether a woman has HPV.
Prevention/Solution
There are various ways to protect against HPV, the main one being the annual Pap screening. Condoms may protect against the virus, but if not used correctly, HPV can still be transferred from a man to a woman. There is also a vaccine, FDA-approved Gardasil, which is used to immunize young women against the virus. Ages 9 to 26 can get the vaccine. It is meant for those not sexually active yet, but can also help women who have multiple partners.
Tags: cervical cancer, genital warts, against virus, cervical anal, percent women, protect against