Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that is very common. In fact, most men and women are infected with HPV at some
time in their lives. There are approximately 100 types of HPV. Some HPV types only infect the genital area and may cause warts,
some cause mild changes in cervical cells that do not turn into cancer, and some cause changes that may become cervical cancer
if present for many years. The types of HPV that are found in the genital areas are usually passed on during sexual contact
(sexually transmitted). HPV types that cause warts on the hands or feet do not cause genital warts or cervical cell changes,
nor do genital HPV types generally spread outside the genital area.
How common is HPV?
HPV
is the most common sexually transmitted virus. It has been estimated that 75% or more of sexually active Americans will contract
HPV sometime in their lives. This means that anyone who has ever had sexual relations has a high chance of being
exposed to this virus, but only a small number of women infected with HPV develop cell changes that need to be treated. In
almost all cases, the immune system will keep the virus (including the cancer-related HPV types) under control or get rid
of it completely. However, if HPV infection does not go away over many years, there is a greater chance of developing cell
changes that may lead to cervical cancer. Only very rarely does the presence of HPV lead to cervical cancer.
Each year, approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the
United States. In most cases cervical cancer can be prevented through early detection and treatment of abnormal cell changes
that occur in the cervix years before cervical cancer develops. We now know that these cell changes are caused by human papillomavirus,
commonly known as HPV. The traditional test for early detection has been the Pap test. Now a test for HPV is being offered
that can be used with the Pap test in women starting at 30 years of age and in women of any age when the Pap test alone has
found slightly abnormal cell changes.
What is the Pap test?
The Pap test finds changes in the cells of the cervix (the
mouth of the womb) that are not normal. The test involves taking a small sample of cells from the cervix, usually during a
routine pelvic exam. The cells are sent to a laboratory where they are prepared and evaluated under a microscope.
What is the HPV test?
The HPV test can find any of the 13 types of HPV that are most commonly
found in cervical cancer. The presence of any of these HPV types in a woman for many years can lead to cell changes that may
need to be treated so that cervical cancer does not occur. The HPV test is done at the same time as the Pap test by using
a small soft brush to collect cervical cells that are sent to the laboratory, or the HPV testing sample may be taken directly
from the Pap sample.
In women 30 and over, screening using both an HPV test and a Pap test is more likely to find abnormal
cervical cell changes than either test alone. If both tests are negative (normal), a woman may safely have her next Pap and
HPV test in three years depending on her past Pap test findings and other risk factors. For this reason, some women now may
have an HPV test when they have their Pap test. It will still be important to continue having routine recommended preventative
health exams.
If I have HPV or a cell abnormality, is there anything I can do?
Don't smoke.
Smoking has been shown to increase the chance that cell abnormalities might progress to more severe changes. Be sure to keep
your follow-up doctor appointments.
What about partners?
Most sexually active couples
share HPV until the immune response suppresses the infection. Partners who are sexually intimate only with each other are
not likely to pass the same virus back and forth. When HPV infection goes away the immune system will remember that HPV type
and keep a new infection of the same HPV type from occurring again. However, because there are many different types of HPV,
becoming immune to one HPV type may not protect you from getting HPV again if exposed to another HPV type.
Will I have the HPV virus forever?
Probably not. HPV
infection is very common, but it usually clears, or is suppressed by the immune system, within 1-2 years.
Can HPV infections be treated? There is currently no treatment available for the virus itself.
However, good treatments do exist for the diseases HPV can cause, such as cervical cell changes or genital warts. Your healthcare
provider will discuss these treatment options with you, if you need them.
For more information on HPV, click on the following link:
