HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is a family of very common viruses that causes nearly all cervical cancers and can cause other cancers. HPV also causes other problems such as common, genital and common warts.
Over 100 strains of HPV exist, 35 known different types infect the genital tract and at least 15 of them can lead to cervical cancer. The most frequent cancer-causing types are 16 and 18- these two cause around 70 percent of cervical cancer. However, an HPV infection rarely leads to cervical cancer.
HPV is the most common STD with at least 70 percent of indviduals getting it at some point in their lives. It happens most frequently to those in their late teens and early 20s. You can get HPV even if you’ve only had gential contact with someone (and not sexual intercourse). There are usually no symptoms, but a woman’s first clue is an abnormal Pap, but it doesn’t show up all the time.
Things that increase your risk for HPV include:
- Smoking
- Starting sexual activity at an early age
- Having many sexual partners
- Your partner has/had many sexual partners
While there are no cures for HPV, it usually goes away on its on without medical treatment. So, how do you prevent it?
- Refrain from all sexual contact
- Get the HPV vaccine
- Reduce the number of sexual partners you have
- Use condoms
For more info on HPV, check out my sources cervicalcancercampaign.org and cancer.about.com.
Click here to read about cervical cancer
