The human papillomavirus is a viral infection that can affect both men and women. This virus can lead to the formation of genital warts as well as a predisposition to develop certain kinds of cancer. At the forefront of these risks is cervical cancer, which is the result of cancerous cells forming at the juncture of the vagina and the uterus.
HPV
The human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is a common sexually transmitted infection, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The most common symptom of this infection is genital warts, which in women can occur in and around the vagina as well as on the cervix. Many patients, however, do not develop any symptoms of an HPV infection.
HPV and Cervical Cancer
In some cases, HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix, leading to a condition known as cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is considered to be a precancerous condition, which means that although these cells are not cancerous yet, they have an increased chance of developing into cervical cancer.
Strains
There are more than 100 types of HPV, and 30 of those have the potential to be transmitted via sexual contact. Of those, four different strains have been deemed "high-risk" forms of the virus because they are the ones most likely to cause the medical problems associated with a HPV infection. According to the National Cancer Institute, HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Ninety percent of all cases of genital warts are associated with HPV types 6 and 11, which are the other two high-risk strains.
Prevention
Although there is no cure for an existing HPV infection, vaccines have been developed against the high-risk strains. One such vaccine, Gardasil, provides immunity against all four high-risk strains, notes the National Cancer Institute. Cervarix, another vaccine, is effective against HPV types 16 and 18. These vaccines are approved for use in females between the ages of 10 and 25 for the prevention of cervical cancer.
Screening
All women, even those who have been vaccinated against the high-risk strains of HPV, need to receive regular Pap tests. A Pap test enables a doctor to take a sample of the tissue from the cervix and examine it for signs of cervical dysplasia. If cervical dysplasia is identified before it becomes cancerous, the damaged cells can be removed before they form cervical cancer. Pap tests are usually performed as part of a standard gynecological exam.
