Human Papilloma Virus

Human Papilloma Virus – General Information

The papilloma viruses are a group of DNA-based viruses which infect the skin and also the mucous membranes of the humans. At this time there have been discovered over one hundred different types of Human Papilloma Virus (also abbreviated HPV). Some types of the Human Papilloma Virus may cause warts and some can cause sub-clinical infections which usually lead to precancerous lesions. All the HPVs are transmissible by skin-to-skin contact. There has been identified a group of about 40 papilloma viruses which are transmitted during intercourse and which affect the androgenital area and cause genital warts (these are very contagious and the patients may get them during anal, vaginal or oral sex –although there are few persons who were contaminated during oral sex – with an infected person), but there are also viruses which affect the genitals without causing any visible signs and symptoms. The Human Papilloma Virus infections are the most common causes of the cervical cancer. In order to minimize the risk of developing this medical condition, the patients should abstain from any sexual contact. For the patients who whish to be sexually active it is important to have a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. In the case of the patients who are sexually active but do not have a single partner it is important to reduce the number of the sexual partners in order to also reduce the risk of developing this medical condition. This medical condition may affect women as well as men.

Human Papilloma Virus – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Human Papilloma Virus infection) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed (mentioned) here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Human Papilloma Virus infection or from any other medical disorder. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that a person who suffers from Human Papilloma Virus infection, may experience. In the women who get infected usually present genital warts which can appear inside and outside of the vagina, around the anus and event at the opening of the uterus which is called cervix. In the men who are infected with this virus, the genital warts are usually uncommon, but in the cases in which they do appear they are usually localized on the tip or on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, and also around the anus. There are very rare cases in which the warts can also develop in the mouth and throat during oral sex with an infected person. This medical condition usually does not have any signs or symptoms which a patient can see or feel. A study has shown that more then half of the women who suffer from this medical condition do not have symptoms.

Human Papilloma Virus – Treatment

If a woman has genital warts her doctor or personal health care provider will examine her in order to see if the cervix is also infected. The health care provider or doctor can diagnose such an infection after a Pap smear test if the results are abnormal, after a cancer screening for the cervical cancer and after a cancer-screening tool for pre-cancerous changes in the cervix. The personal health care provider may also take a small piece of the tissue around the cervix in order to examine it under a microscope. The doctor may recommend the patients to do another test in order to diagnose the Human Papilloma Virus infection, which is called HPV DNA and which reveals the infection if it exists. The doctor may also apply acetic acid on some areas of the patient’s body which may be infected in order to make the warts visible in the case in which they exist (because there are many warts which are not visible to the eyes). Although these warts disappear in some cases without any treatment, there exist treatments for them. As there is no way for the doctor to say if the genital warts caused by the Human Papilloma Virus in a person will disappear or will continue growing, it is important for a person who suspects being infected to see a doctor immediately, in order to be examined and treated.

The treatment which the personal health care provider or the doctor will prescribe for the patients who are suffering of Human Papilloma Virus infection depends on the size of the genital warts and their location. Here are some of the medicines which are usually recommended: imiquimod cream, 20% podophyllin antimitotic solution, Trichloroacetic acid (also known as TCA), 0,5% podofilox solution or 5% 5-fluorouracil cream. In the pregnant women it is not recommended the use of podophyllin, fluorouracil cream or podofilox as they are applied on the skin which absorbs them and this may lead to birth defects in the future new born. If the affected person presents only small warts, the doctor may recommend him or her, the removal of these warts through cryosurgery, electrocautery or laser treatment.

In the patients who have big warts which do not respond to the treatment, the patients may be recommended by their doctors to remove these warts during a surgery. Another treatment which is used of a part of the health care providers is to inject alpha interferon (alpha interferon is an antiviral drug) into the warts which reappear after the treatment. The bad part is that this drug, called alpha interferon is very expensive. All the treatments listed above are used to treat the warts, but there is no specific treatment for the Human Papilloma Virus and this is why the warts may reappear after one of the treatments listed above, because the Human Papilloma Virus remains in the patient’s organism. There is also a vaccine to help prevent the infection with the papilloma virus which is usually made to treat girls and young women. It is recommended to the vaccine before beginning to be active sexually as it is more efficient.