Human Papillomavirus or HPV or Genital Warts
What is it?
HPV stands for
Human Papillomavirus, commonly known as “warts”. There are more than 100 different types of HPV (for example, warts on your hands or feet) and most people get warts at some time in their lives. Of those 100 different types of HPV, 30 of them are sexually transmitted. These can cause warts to appear or they may cause cancer, most commonly cervical and throat cancers. In women, they can show up on the vulva, inside the vagina and urethra, or on the anus or thighs. In men they can show up on the penis, scrotum, anus or thighs.
Some types of HPV can cause pre-cancerous lesions and eventually cancer of the throat, cervix, penis, vagina or vulva. They most commonly lead to cervical cancer. HPV is one of the most common causes of cervical cancer. Of the 30 different genital HPV viruses, only 13 types are considered a risk for cancer.
How do you get HPV?
- From skin-to-skin contact (prolonged contact between your own genitals those of a person who carries the virus).
- Warts do not need to be present for a person to pass on HPV to their partner.
- By having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who is already infected.
- Kissing or touching a partner’s genitals with you mouth.
- Genital warts are very contagious and common.
- The virus usually (90% of the time) clears from the body within a year or two.
How do you avoid HPV?
HPV is hard to avoid for anyone who has been sexually active. Annual pap tests help sexually active women screen for pre-cancerous cell changes caused by HPV. This is the most important way women can avoid cervical cancer caused by HPV.
Ways to reduce your risk of HPV infection:
- Abstain from sexual contact (though you can still kiss and hug with your clothing on).
- Apparently it’s so common that even having had one partner most people will carry it, though many show no symptoms.
- Use male and female condoms for vaginal and anal sex.
- Use dental dams for oral sex.
Note: Condoms protect some parts of the body but HPV can be transmitted from areas of the body that are not covered such as the scrotum, vulva or thighs.
VACCINATION
A new vaccine to protect against four common types of HPV was approved by the Government of Canada in July of 2006.1 (Link to PDF information sheet). The vaccine was approved for females age 9 to 26 years of age and can be considered for females over age 26. 2 In Alberta, girls in grades 5 and 9 are offered the vaccine at school and can get it free if their parents consent; otherwise you need a prescription for three doses of the vaccine from a doctor and the cost is about $475 for all three.3 It is important to note that the HPV vaccination does not stop you from getting other STIs so it is still important to practice safer sex even if you have been vaccinated.
Symptoms
How HPV affects a person’s body seems to vary – some people show no signs of the infection and simply carry the virus while others develop visible warts. Genital warts may last for a long time and eventually go away but the HPV virus can remain dormant in your body and return later on. If you do get warts they usually show up within three months of contact with the virus but sometimes it can take up to a year or longer to show signs.
Symptoms for women can include:
- Pinkish, flat and slightly raised bumps in the vagina or on the cervix.
- Pink to greyish-brown coloured warts that grow in cauliflower-like clusters on the vulva, anus or thighs.
- Tingling or a burning sensation.
- Minor bleeding after anal sex or a bowel movement.
- Cervical dysplasia (this means abnormal cell growth on a woman’s cervix).
Symptoms for men can include:
- Pink to greyish-brown coloured warts that grow in cauliflower-like clusters on the penis, anus or thighs.
- Tingling or a burning sensation.
- Minor bleeding after anal sex or a bowel movement.
- Difficulty peeing.
Testing
The test for HPV is not part of routine STD testing. If genital warts are visible a doctor can freeze these away.
Quick home test for genital warts: hold white vinegar with a non-white tissue against the bump. If it goes white then it could be a wart (or yeast infection) but if it remains the same colour as tissue around it then it is likely not warts. Have a doctor take a closer look to be sure.
One of the best ways for females to screen for HPV is to get regular pap smears (at least once a year). The doctor will take a swab of your cervix and send these cells to a laboratory for testing. If your test results show abnormal cell growth, you should be referred for a special examination called a colposcopic examination. The doctor will get a closer look at your cervix and send a sample of the tissue for further testing.
Treatment
You cannot cure HPV but you can treat it. Many cases clear from the body within a year or two. Do not use over-the-counter or drugstore treatments that you can buy to get rid of finger or foot warts. These may work on your hands and feet but your genitals are much more sensitive and you don’t want to cause scarring.
Depending on where they are located, your doctor may recommend other methods to get rid of genital warts including:
- Podophyllin and Trichloroacetic acid that can be applied to external genital warts only (not inside your vagina or anus).
- Imiquimod cream (stimulates your immune system to fight the virus).
- Cryotherapy (freezing the cells with liquid nitrogen).
If you have developed cervical dysplasia (pre-cancerous lesions) as a result of HPV your doctor may talk o you about:
- Cryotherapy (freezing the cells with liquid nitrogen).
- Electrosurgery (an electric current passes through the abnormal cells).
- Laser therapy (a laser heats and vaporizes the abnormal cells).
- LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure - the removal of tissue using a hot wire loop).
- Conization (cutting part of the cervix out).
© Calgary Sexual Health Centre 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.