What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted STD. As many as 80 percent of sexually active people are infected with the virus. Surprisingly little is ever said about this disease. For a long time, the virus was believed to be benign, but now we know it substantially increases the risk of cervical cancer, thus aging the immune system. This STD also produces the chronic inflammation and chronic infections that age the arteries. Some strains cause small genital growths or warts that can be uncomfortable; these can easily be removed. If you have had more than two sex partners in your lifetime, or if your partner has had more than two sex partners, chances are you have been exposed to the virus. In general, human papillomavirus infection doesn't do much, and there are no treatments. But once you have it, you have it.
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted STD. As many as 80 percent of sexually active people are infected with the virus. Surprisingly little is ever said about this disease. For a long time, the virus was believed to be... More -
Dr. Angela Lowery answered:Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are more than 40 types of HPV. These HPV types can affect the genitals, mouth and throat of men and women alike. Most people infected with HPV are not aware they have been infected.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are more than 40 types of HPV. These HPV types can affect the genitals, mouth and throat of men and women alike. Most people infected with HPV are not aware they... More -
Anna Tarleton Potter of Good In Bed answered:HPV stands for human papillomavirus, the virus family that causes warts on the hand, foot, or genitals. It also can cause cervical cancer. There are many different strains of this virus, which can infect both men and women. Abnormal Pap smears at an annual gynecological exam or genital warts typically are the only ways to know you have HPV. The Gardasil vaccine can protect against it.
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, the virus family that causes warts on the hand, foot, or genitals. It also can cause cervical cancer. There are many different strains of this virus, which can infect both men and women. Abnormal Pap... More -
Dr. Jill Grimes answered:The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of over one hundred viral subtypes, more than 30 of which are transmitted sexually. Types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers. Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts. Other types cause “common” warts on hands or feet.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of over one hundred viral subtypes, more than 30 of which are transmitted sexually. Types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers. Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts. Other types cause... More -
Dr. Eric Genden of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:There are more than 100 different types of human papilloma virus. The most common types are found on the skin and appear as warts seen on the hand. HPV can also infect the genital areas of males and females. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are at least 40 HPV types that can affect the genital areas. Some of these are low-risk and cause genital warts while high-risk types can cause cervical or other types of genital cancer. The high-risk HPV types may also cause head and neck cancer, also called oropharyngeal cancer, which is becoming more prevalent.
There are more than 100 different types of human papilloma virus. The most common types are found on the skin and appear as warts seen on the hand. HPV can also infect the genital areas of males and females. According to the Centers for Disease... More -
Angie Thompson, APN of Intermountain Healthcare answered:What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papilloma virus. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some produce warts — plantar warts on the feet, common hand warts, genital warts, etc. About 30 types of HPV can infect the genital area — the vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, or scrotum. Some types may cause changes in cells. These “high risk” types increase the risk of cervical and certain other cancers. Most types seem to have no harmful effect at all.
Does HPV cause cervical cancer?
A small number of genital HPVs is linked to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. Long-term HPV infections increase the risk of cervical cancer. Most women recover from HPV infections with no health problems at all. It is not known why some women develop long-term HPV infection, pre-cancerous abnormal cell changes, or cervical cancer. Most HPV infections go away by themselves within six months. Some women develop immunity — a natural protection — against different types of HPV.
What is the treatment for HPV infection?
Treatment is available for genital warts or abnormal cell changes caused by HPV. But there is currently no treatment to cure HPV itself. Most types of HPV infection are harmless, do not require treatment, and go away by themselves. Remember ... most abnormalities that are detected are not cancerous. Early treatment of precancerous growths can prevent cancer from developing. Follow-up examinations are necessary if an abnormal condition is found.
What is HPV? HPV stands for human papilloma virus. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some produce warts — plantar warts on the feet, common hand warts, genital warts, etc. About 30 types of HPV can infect the genital area — the... More -
Riverside Women's Health answered:Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the name for a group of viruses that includes more than 100 types. More than 40 types of HPV can be passed through sexual contact.
The types of HPV that infect the genital area are called genital HPV. Over half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. But most people never know it. This is because HPV most often has no symptoms and goes away on its own.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the name for a group of viruses that includes more than 100 types. More than 40 types of HPV can be passed through sexual contact. The types of HPV that infect the genital area are called genital HPV. Over half of... More -
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 100 common viruses. Most are harmless, but about 30 types are acquired through sexual contact with an infected partner. They can cause genital warts, abnormal Pap tests, and cervical cancer. At least 50 percent of sexually active women acquire a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. Each year, about 20 million women in the United States are infected with HPV, and nearly 4,000 women die from cervical cancer. In most instances, HPV does not cause symptoms. Consequently, infected individuals can easily pass the disease to their sexual partners without knowing it. There is currently no cure for HPV.Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 100 common viruses. Most are harmless, but about 30 types are acquired through sexual contact with an infected partner. They can cause genital warts, abnormal Pap tests, and cervical cancer.... More -
Dr. Diane Harper answered:HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are animal papillomaviruses, too, but they cannot infect humans.
HPV is a large family composed of species (groups) and then types. For instance, there are two major species that contain the 15 types of HPV that cause cancer. One species contains HPV 18 and 45, the most common causes of glandular cancers; the other species contains HPV 16, 31, 33, 51, 52, 58, the most common causes of squamous cancers.
There is another species that contains six types associated with genital warts, including HPV 6, 11, 13, 44, 55, and 74. These types do not cause cancer.
HPV is a small circular DNA virus with around 8,800 base pairs, compared with the human DNA, which has more than 3 billion base pairs. When HPV invades the skin cell and stays separate from your human DNA, it can change cells into warts and abnormal areas that are not cancer precursors, and it can reproduce, making more viruses to infect you or others.
When HPV invades the skin cell and inserts itself into your human DNA to become part of your human DNA, it can no longer reproduce and make more viruses, but it can set off the genes to start the cancer process.There's a lot of confusion about human papillomavirus (HPV). In this video, HPV expert Dr. Diane Harper explains what this virus is and where it lives in the body.
HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are animal papillomaviruses, too, but they cannot infect humans. HPV is a large family composed of species (groups) and then types. For instance, there are two major species that contain the 15... More -
Healthwise answered:The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts, including genital warts, and may cause cervical cancer and changes in the cervix that can lead to cancer. HPV is spread by direct contact.
There are more than 100 known types of HPV.
- Some HPV types cause genital warts. In women, certain high-risk types of HPV increase the risk of cervical cancer. Women may have an HPV infection and not have any symptoms. Sometimes the only sign that a woman is infected with HPV is an abnormal Pap test result.
- Other types of HPV cause common, plantar, filiform or flat warts, and some genital warts. These types of warts are not cancerous.
There is no known cure for HPV. Most warts and HPV infections go away without treatment within 2 years. But medicines and treatments are available to help warts disappear more quickly. HPV remains in the body with or without treatment, so warts or HPV infections of the cervix may come back.
The HPV vaccine can help prevent HPV infection. It can be given to males and females 9 to 26 years old.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts, including genital warts, and may cause cervical cancer and changes in the cervix that can lead to cancer. HPV is spread by direct contact. There are more than 100 known types of HPV. Some HPV types cause... More
