COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS: HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)
There are 90 different human papilloma {pap-ill-LOW-mah) viruses. They cause a variety of warts and other conditions. A few HPVs cause genital warts, but most genital HPV infections are not visible and have no symptoms. Some of these are associated with cancer of the cervix, vulva, or penis. Every year, about 1 million Americans are infected with genital HPVs—40 million women and men are now infected.
Common Symptoms
• warts on the genitals, in the urethra, in the anus, and, rarely, in the throat
• genital warts that are soft to the touch; may look like miniature cauliflower florets, and often itch
• untreated genital warts that occasionally grow to block the openings of the vagina, anus, or throat and become quite uncomfortable
It usually takes from two to three weeks after infection for warts to develop. In women, genital warts grow more rapidly during pregnancy or when other vaginal infections are present.
How Genital HPVs Are Spread
• vaginal and anal intercourse
• very rarely, during childbirth
Diagnosis
• microscopic examination of tissue sample
• clinical evaluation of warts during a physical or gynecological exam
• use of special magnifiers—colposcopes—to detect genital HPVs that cannot be seen with the naked eye during pelvic exams
• Pap tests, which may reveal precancerous conditions caused by genital HPVs. Early treatment prevents cancer of the cervix.
Treatment: Though HPV can recur, genital warts can be treated in a number of ways. They may be removed by carefully applying, and often reapplying, a prescription medication, podofilox, to the wart. Clinicians offer other treatments, including:
• standard surgery
• laser surgery (vaporizing the wart with a beam of high-powered light)
• cryosurgery (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen)
• application of podofilox, podophyllin, or trichloroacetic acid
• injection with interferon
Protection: Condoms may offer some protection, but the viruses may “shed” beyond the area protected by a condom.
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