HPV & Genital Warts Symptoms, HPV Testing & Screening

What is it

HPV (which stands for for Human Papilloma Virus) is the most common STI in the UK. It is a sexually transmitted virus which causes genital warts. HPV can also cause changes in a woman's cervix and is the single biggest cause of cervical cancer in women. The recent tragic death of Jade Goody from cervical cancer highlights the risks posed by HPV and the need for women to get tested regularly. In addition to cervical cancer, HPV can can also cause vulval, anal and other types of cancer. Many types of HPV exist, but only about 30 of them can cause genital warts. There are now vaccines which can prevent infection from certain types of HPV.and are spread through sexual contact. They may be either flat or resemble raspberries or cauliflowers in appearance. The warts begin as small red or pink growths and grow as large as four inches across, interfering with intercourse and childbirth. Growths may also be hidden or undetectable.

How can i get it?

HPV is highly infectious and transmitted through sexual contact. HPV can be passed through oral, anal, or regular sexual intercourse. HPV is possible to catch even when wearing a condom and it is almost impossible to know if your partner is carrying the virus because often the virus has no symptoms. Genital Warts don't have to be present to become infected with HPV because it can be caught from touching the infected skin or through sexual fluids.

How do i know if i have it?

It is often difficult to tell whether you have HPV because many types of the virus cause no symptoms. Some types of HPV cause genital warts, which may look like small pink spots, raised bumps or cauliflower shaped warts. In men, these warts tend to form on the shaft, head or base of the penis. In women, these warts may form in or around the vagina or the labia or "lips".

The more serious types of HPV are the ones which cause cancers and are typically invisible. Therefore, the only way to find out if you have HPV is to get tested. For women, it is extremely important to get tested regularly through cervical smears given the risks of developing cervical cancer. For men that have anal sex, having regular anal smears is equally important.

hpv testing ~ testing for hpv

For women, testing for HPV is done with a cervical smear (also called a "pap smear") which will check for HPV but can also detect changes in the cells of the cervix. It is critical to get tested regularly if you are sexually active. For both men and women, diagnosing genital warts can also be done if there is a visible warts on the genitals or anus. In these cases, a doctor or nurse can take a swab of the wart for testing.

treating HPV and genital warts

As HPV is a virus, there is no cure. In other words, once you contract the virus it cannot be removed with medicine although most people's bodies get rid of the virus naturally over time. However, the symptoms of HPV, including Genital Warts, can be treated. If you have visible warts, then these can typically be removed with lasers, creams, surgery or frozen (cryotherapy).

Recently, two vaccines have been developed for immunizing against certain types of HPV. These vaccines are called Gardasil and Cervarix. They are given in 3 doses over 6 months and can only be taken if you do not already have HPV so you must get tested first.

Other Adverse Consequences

Genital warts may enlarge during pregnancy due to hormones. If the warts become large enough, they could become an obstacle to delivery, requiring a caesarean section. In some instances, warts are passed from mother to child during childbirth, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition for newborns in which warts develop in the throat (laryngeal papillomatosis).

Persistent HPV (Genital Wart) infections are now recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer, and may play a role in some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penis. Studies have also found that oral HPV infection is a strong risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer that forms in tissues of the oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat and includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils).