Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
What is it?
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infections also known as STI. This STI is usually refereed to genital warts it may grow on the penis, anus,inside or outside the vagina. How does a person get it? You can get HPV from direct skin-to-skin contact during vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex. Using condoms helps reduce the spread of HPV. Is it bacterial, viral, or a parasite? It is viral What are the symptoms? usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. Healthcare providers can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area. Warts can appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected partner—even if the infected partner has no signs of genital warts. If left untreated, genital warts might go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers. How is it treated? HPV is often cleared on it's own but there is a precipitation cream, laser theory and girls get vaccines. |
How is it diagnosed
You take a Pap test. A pap test removes sample of cells from the cervix. The cells are then examined under a microscope to look for any changes. Or you can take a HPV DNA test How can a person keep from getting it? HPV vaccines are recommend for girls. The vaccines people can get is the Cervarix and Gardasil. People can also prevent this from happening from limiting their number of sex partners or being with someone who had never had sex or a few prior sex partners. What happens if its not treated? There is a chance it may lead to cervical and or anal cancer. However, not all types of HPV lead to this. If left treated it causes genital warts and or warts at the back of the throat, a condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis or RRP. Warts do not cause cancer. RRP sometimes blocks the airway causing troubled breathing or hoarse voice. |