HPV or the Human Papillomavirus is one of the leading sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S., with over 6 million new cases every year and 20 million currently infected. HPV is also associated with cervical cancer. Worldwide, there is an estimated 10 percent prevalence of cervical cancer among women. With an estimated 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer per year, it is the leading cause of death by cancer in women of the developing world.
Papillomavirus belongs to a group of over 100 related viruses, with about 40 implicated in human disease, namely genital warts and cervical cancer. There are two main classes, based on their propensity to cause either genital warts (low-risk group) or cervical and other cancers around the genitals and anus (high-risk group).
How Does HPV Spread?
Skin to skin contact during sexual intercourse is the main route of transmission. HPV gains entrance to the body through small cracks in the skin. These can be from old lesions, like shaving cuts, other poorly healed sexually transmitted diseases or the improper use of tampons with bruising. Bruising during the actual intercourse can also increase transmission. The virus migrates to the basal cells of the skin, where cell division takes place to replenish the layers of skin cells. The virus can remain dormant for a long time.
The body is usually able to mount an appropriate immune response to this virus and clear it. Any compromise of the immune system, as seen in HIV/AIDS provides a favorable environment for the virus to exert its influence.
In the basal layers of the skin, HPV alters the behavior of the cells and produces the overgrowth seen as warts or cauliflower growths in the external genitals, anus and sometimes the mouth. It can also predispose to malignant changes if the high-risk group is involved, with the development of cancers in the cervix (most of the time) or any other part of the external genitalia, like the vagina, vulva, scrotum and anus.
In the absence of these growths and changes, the virus can still be transmitted from skin contact. The latex condom only covers a limited portion of skin surface involved in sexual intercourse, thus affording limited protection from this virus.
HPV Control
Multiple sexual partners increase the risk of acquiring this infection. Skin lesions and previous sexually transmitted diseases are other predisposing factors. Immune deficiencies, like HIV/AIDS, immune suppressant treatments for any reason and steroid use are also significant in the transmission of HPV.
Treatment of the warts and other skin lesions around the genitals lower the chances of transmission. Condom use will still lower the likelihood of transmission, though it will not eliminate the chances.
A new vaccine, developed to cover the major subtypes in human disease is available for pre-teenage girls and sexually active young women.
