Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that has become increasingly prevalent.
In layman's terms, HPV is known as genital warts. Although there are more than 100 types of HPV, about 30 distinct types affect the genital region.
These 30 different types of HPV can either cause genital warts, have no effect on the carrier, or in the most severe cases the high risk types can cause mutated cell growth that leads to cervical cancer.
Research shows that the main cause of cervical cancer is the HPV virus, which creates some concern among researchers with the younger generation today.
In college especially, young people practice serial monogamy when getting involved in relationships.
A large majority of these couples are also sexually active. As a result, HPV is now becoming increasingly prevalent in the age group 18 years of age and up.
The easiest way to determine the presence of HPV is an annual pap smear for women.
Sexually active women are highly encouraged to be tested once a year.
The pap smear can detect any abnormalities that can be further screened for HPV. The annual can also detect any external genital signs for HPV.
Genital warts can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina and anus, the "bikini line" area, and very rarely but sometimes on the cervix.
On males, they appear on the penis, scrotum, anus and the groin area.
Warts will appear to be raised bumps, either the same color as the skin or white. Larger ones have a cauliflower cluster like appearance. The indication of warts implies that the virus is active at the moment.
Some people will only have one occurrence of an outbreak, while others will have periodic outbreaks.
On occasions, the warts could be so small (known as subclinical) that they are unable to be detected with the naked eye.
Transmission of HPV occurs through vaginal, anal or on rare occasions, through oral sexual contact.
Since the first outbreak can be anytime or even never, it is hard to determine its source or when the virus was contracted.
HPV has no cure, but there are ways to limit breakouts and remove the current genital warts and abnormal cells.
Currently, there are two FDA approved topical creams, Condylox and Aldara, both of which can be applied to the skin to remove smaller warts.
For larger warts and abnormal cells, a doctor can perform cryotherapy, which is a procedure that freezes off external larger warts with liquid nitrogen.
However, the residual side effects of internal cryotherapy are severe and include cramping and an unpleasant smelling discharge after the first week.
After analysis of an abnormal pap smear that indicates cervical dysplasia, or the presence of pre-cancerous cells on the cervix, a procedure known as LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure).
This procedure sends an electric current down a metal looped device placed in a numbed cervix which will remove the abnormal tissue on the cervix.
The downside in this procedure is for women who wish to conceive in the near future. This arises because fertility and conception difficulties increase with the amount of tissue removed, due to weakening of the cervix.
The LEEP requires a follow up visit, two to four weeks afterwards, and then a pap smear every three months for the next two years to ensure that no reoccurring dysplasia has been detected.
Side effects of this are relatively mild. Although, discharge is common, as well as occasional slight cramping.
Another option is laser ablation. Like the LEEP, it removes abnormal tissue and skin and has the best track record of success.
The benefits of laser ablation are that the healing time is greatly increased and there is no unpleasant discharge. Although spotting can occur.
However, ten percent of women undergoing this procedure may still see reoccurrences of the virus.
Also, the risk of pregnant women transferring HPV onto their fetuses or babies during delivery is marginal.
Very rarely will infants develop warts in their throat. The only risk is that warts could cause the mother to have a complicated delivery with excess bleeding around the vaginal area.
There are various methods of protecting against HPV and genital warts. These methods include: abstinence, effectively using condoms (this is still risky since not all of the entire genital region is protected with a condom), and to abstain from sexual activity from a person with obvious external symptoms and breakouts.
Currently researchers are attempting to develop a vaccine for this virus.
