HPV or human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease. There are more than 100 different strains. Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Others are called "low-risk" types, and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. Genital warts are single or multiple growths or bumps that appear in the genital area, and sometimes are cauliflower shaped. Persistent infection makes you more at risk for cervical cancer (Human Papilomavirus Infection(HPV) 2007)
HPV infection: to the left, healthy cervical tissue; in the middle, the phase in which the virus multiplies, and to the right, the integration of the virus into the DNA of the cells. This is where the virus DNA sets a process of malignant change in motion. (Diagram courtesy of research.leidenuniv.nl/index.php3?c=243)
Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected persons are unaware they are infected, yet they can transmit the virus to a sex partner. The time of incubation for the infection can be long and variable among women. Symptoms may not appear for several weeks to up until a year after initial infection. Rarely, a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. There is currently no cure for HPV, although most infections go away on their own (Stanely, Pett, and Coleman 2007). The virus can be latent, which means it can be present in the body but will cause no damage to the host. Once you acquire one strain, you develop antibodies for it and cannot be infected with that same strain again, but it is possible to be infected by the numerous other strains that exist.
Hierarchy of Clinically-apparent & Sub clinical Human Papillomavirus Infections: U.S. Adults 15-49 Years of Age (2004) (Diagram courtesy of www.merckmedicus.com/.../hpvd/epidemiology.jsp)
For 2004, the American Cancer society estimates that about 10,520 women will develop invasive cervical cancer and about 3,900 women will die from this disease. It is estimated that nearly 80% of women are exposed to HPV at some point in their lives (HPV and Cervical Cancer Screening 2003). Most women who develop invasive cervical cancer have not had regular cervical cancer screening The population that is generally infected is 15-24 years of age. The more sexual partners a woman has, the greater chance she has of acquiring a strain of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer.
Prevalence of HPV Infection in Women as a Function of Lifetime Number of Sexual Partners (Diagram courtesy of www.merckmedicus.com/.../hpvd/epidemiology.jsp)
The surest way to prevent genital HPV is to avoid sexual contact. For persons who are sexually active, condoms may lower their chances of getting HPV, if used all the time and the right way. Condoms may lower a person’s chances of developing genital warts and cervical cancer. But HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom – so condoms may not fully protect against HPV(Human Papilomavirus Infection(HPV) 2007).