HPV is the term used to refer to the gentile human papillomavirus, and there are more than 100 types of the virus affecting close to 20 million people in the United States, according to MayoClinic.com. HPV can express itself in the form of warts found in the genitals, mouth or throat. HPV is also the cause for a variety of cancers, but primarily the cause of cervical cancer, which can be deadly if not caught early.
Basics
HPV is a virus that is transferred by skin-to-skin contact with other people, says MayoClinic.com. Once infected, the person can develop a HPV infection if the virus enters the body through cuts or abrasions.
Specifics
People generally contract HPV during sexual contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that HPV is often passed during vaginal, anal or oral sex when a person is in contact with an infected person's genitals. People who have HPV are generally unaware of the infection. For some, the HPV virus can remain dormant for many years after they had sexual contact with an infected partner, says the CDC. HPV on rare occasions has been known to be passed from mothers to newborn babies during the delivery process, the CDC says.
Considerations
According to MayoClinic.com, people who have suppressed immune systems from things such as HIV/AIDs or immune suppressing medications taken as a result of an organ transplant may be at greater risk for developing HIV inflections as a result of contracting the virus. In addition, MayoClinic.com says it appears that women younger than 25 are more at risk for developing HPV inflections, but the reason for this is not known.
Prevention
For both genders, there are vaccines to prevent the development of most HPV infections. The CDC says that these vaccines are given in three rounds of shots and are most effective when given before a person's first sexual contact. Women can be vaccinated with Cervarix or Gardasil, while Gardasil is the only vaccine available for men, says the CDC.
According to MayoClinic.com, the transmission of HPV can be reduced by being in mutually monogamous sexual relationships, limiting the number of sexual partners a person has and using latex condoms each time a person engages in any sexual activity, including oral sex.
Diagnosis
Especially in women, it is important to test for the presence of HPV so steps can be taken to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Young women are most at risk for HPV and should receive annual pap tests to check for any abnormal cell growth. If abnormal growth is found, a doctor might recommend further DNA testing of the cells, according to MayoClinic.com. HPV warts can be diagnosed through a doctor's visual inspection of the area or application of a vinegar solution test to turn HPV inflections in the genital areas white, MayoClinic.com says.
