Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is incredibly common, yet there is still so much confusion and misunderstanding around the virus. It can be scary and frustrating trying to understand HPV when clear information is hard to come by — especially for women, who often hear it associated with cervical cancer.

In this blog post, we'll walk through everything you need to know about HPV, including how the virus is spread, its symptoms (if any), prevention methods, and how it's linked to cervical cancer.

Together, let’s get informed so you can take control of your health!

What is HPV?

HPV is a virus that can affect various parts of the human body. There are over 100 strains of the virus, with at least 30 strains affecting both female and male genitals, including the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, and scrotum. When HPV affects the genitals, it’s considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Low-Risk HPV vs. High-Risk HPV

HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with 80% of women testing positive for HPV at some point in their life. It’s typically grouped into the two following categories:

• Low-Risk HPV: These HPV strains rarely cause cancer and commonly cause cauliflower-shaped warts on or around the genitals and anus. They can appear weeks, months, or even years after you’ve been infected with HPV, and like all forms of HPV, these genital warts are contagious. These warts may go unnoticed by women, as they can often grow in the vagina and cervix.
  
  
• High-Risk HPV: These HPV strains can cause abnormal pap smears, precancerous changes of the cervix, and cervical cancers. Although less common, these strains can also lead to some vaginal and vulvar cancers. There are around 12 types of high-risk strains, and these strains do not cause warts and often present no symptoms.

HPV and Cervical Cancer

Nearly all cervical cancers (95%) are caused by high-risk HPV strains, with two strains (HPV 16 and HPV 18) causing about 7 out of 10 (70%) cervical cancer cases. Although it’s important to remember that having HPV does not mean you will get cancer, and most of the time HPV goes away on its own.

According to the American Cancer Society, most people with an uncompromised immune system can clear the infection within two years. If a woman has a long-lasting or persistent high-risk infection that won’t clear, she is more likely to develop cancer.

Of those infected with high-risk HPV, only a small percentage will develop abnormal cervical cells that require treatment. Luckily, routine pap smear exams (tests that screen for precancerous and cancerous changes of the cervix) will allow early detection of precancerous lesions in the cervix, which can then be treated before the lesion develops into cervical cancer.

Learn more about pap smears and the importance of screening for Cervical Cancer here.

What Are The Symptoms of HPV?

The most common symptom of low-risk HPV is genital warts. High-risk types of HPV don’t cause symptoms, meaning you could have HPV and pass it along without knowing. This is why routine pap smears and HPV testing are essential, as they are the only way to detect high-risk HPV and prevent spreading the virus.

How is HPV Spread?

HPV is very contagious and can be easily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during any sort of sexual activity (bodily fluids do not need to be exchanged). In other words, penetrative sex is not the only way you can get HPV. You can become infected if any body parts (vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, or anus) come in contact with your partner’s infected body parts. This is why HPV is very common and why most men and women will get HPV at some time in their lives if they are sexually active.

Taking control of your health can be difficult due to the misinformation you come across online. Our blog debunks the 12 common misconceptions and myths surrounding women’s health!

HPV Treatments

There are no treatments for HPV, although genital warts associated with low-risk HPV strains can be removed. Pre-cancer cells caused by HPV can also be treated if they are detected early enough.

Like most viruses, your body’s immune system will fight off the HPV infection. It’s important to remember that after your body clears the virus, the virus will never go away 100% but will be insignificant enough to not show up on a scan. This is why routine scanning is so important — even if you have a history of normal pap smears and negative HPV tests, it does not mean you will never test positive for HPV in the future.

As children grow into teens, it's important they receive appropriate medical care from a doctor specializing in women's health care, including HPV prevention. Click here to learn what to expect during your first Moreland OB-GYN visit!

HPV Prevention

HPV is an extremely common virus, with some doctors thinking it’s almost as common as the cold virus. Using condoms and limiting your sex partners can help prevent getting infected. But again, HPV is very common, and having protected sex with even one partner can put you at risk.

The HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine is the best way you can protect yourself against HPV infection, especially the types of HPV that are most likely to cause cervical cancer (HPV-16 and HPV-18), genital warts, and other types of vaginal and vulvar cancers.

It’s recommended that the HPV vaccine be administered to boys and girls starting at the age of 11 or 12, before they become sexually active and potentially exposed to the virus. However, the vaccine can still be effective in preventing HPV infections in women who have already become sexually active.

The HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV, so it’s important you still have your routine cervical screenings, even if you have had the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine also does not treat HPV once you are infected, which is why administering the vaccine before any form of sexual activity is recommended.

Schedule an appointment to talk about the HPV vaccine now!

Talking To Your Moreland OB-GYN Doctor About HPV

At Moreland OB-GYN, we understand that early detection is crucial to preventing cervical cancer due to HPV. Our team of caring providers will take the time to answer any questions you have surrounding HPV and will walk you through every step taken during a pap smear and cervical screening, making you feel comfortable and in control.

Moreland OB-GYN is your trusted partner in your journey towards living your healthiest and safest life. Our goal is to be the best resource possible, providing you with all the information you need to understand HPV.

Have more questions about HPV? Schedule an appointment with one of our providers today!