A to Z Disease

What Is HPV?

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus spread mainly through sexual contact. There are more than one hundred different strains of the virus. While most strains are harmless and clear up over time, a small number of strains can lead to cervical cancer.

What Happens With HPV?

When a woman is infected with HPV, cells on the surface of the cervix can show signs of a viral infection. In some cases, the infected cells can become precancerous and may eventually become cancer in the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus, which is where babies grow and develop inside a mother. It's connected to the top end of the vagina. Most cases of cervical cancer develop in the flat, scaly cells that line the cervix. These are called squamous cell carcinomas. The remaining percent of cases develop in the glands of the cervix.

Signs & Symptoms Of HPV

In many cases there are no outward signs of HPV, but some strains can cause genital warts, which explains the name. "Papilloma" is actually the medical term to describe a wart. In general, here are some signs you should look for:

* Genital Warts. These can appear as single or multiple bumps in the genital areas of men and women. They can be present on the vagina, cervix, vulva, penis, and rectum. Warts themselves are considered low risk and generally won't develop into cervical cancer.
* Common Skin Warts. These may be found on the hands or soles of the feet.
* Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding. Also, vaginal discharge that's yellow in color, low back pain, discomfort during sex and painful urination.

Screening For HPV & Cervical Cancer In Women

Since ouward symptoms of HPV are rare, it's very important that women get screened routinely for both HPV and cervical cancer. Here are common tests you should ask your doctor about:

* Pap Smear. This is the most common routine test for women. During a pap smear, your doctor will remove cells from the cervix using a special swab. In order to do this, a tool called a speculum will be inserted to hold the walls of the vagina open so your doctor can get a clear view of the cervix. You'll feel some uncomfortable pressure while your doctor is removing the cells from your cervix, but it only lasts a few seconds. For the most accurate results, Pap Smears should be performed 2 weeks after menstruation and at least 48 hours after sex. The American Cancer Society recommends that all women begin having annual Pap smears at the age of 18, or when they become sexually active.
* HPV DNA Test. This is a simple blood test that will detect the presence of HPV.
* Colposcopy. After the Pap smear, some gynecologists also perform a colposcopy. This test checks for warts that can't be seen during a pelvic exam. Your doctor will flush a vinegar solution, or acetic acid, into the upper portion of your cervix. That will cause any existing warts to whiten and stand out.
* Biopsy. If any abnormal cells are detected during routine testing, further tests may be necessary. This can include a biopsy, which is a surgical procedure to test cells for cancer.

Screening For HPV & Cancer In Men

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection and right now, there is no way to detect HPV in men.

Preventing HPV & Cervical Cancer

There are a number of ways to prevent coming in contact with the HPV virus:

* Practice Safe Sex. Unless you're in a monogamous relationship with a partner who's free of STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, use a condom every time you have sex.
* Get The HPV Vaccine. While this is controversial subject, many girls and young women have chosen vaccination to protect themselves from HPV and cervical cancer. The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine vaccinations for girls 11 and 12 years old. This is the age when the body responds best because it's building up the immune system. The vaccine is most effective if given before girls become sexually active, so it is also advised that girls as young as 9 and women up to 26 years old be vaccinated if they haven't already received it. This vaccine doesn't offer protection from all types of HPV, or other sexually transmitted diseases.
* Quit Cigarette Smoking. It is known that cigarette smoking increases the risk of both precancerous changes and cancer of the cervix.

Treating HPV

Since HPV is a virus, there is no cure, but there are ways to alleviate symptoms like warts:

If you have small warts, your doctor can remove them by one of three methods:

* Freezing, or cryosurgery
* Burning, or electrocautery
* Laser treatment.

If you have large warts that have not responded to other treatment, you may need to have surgery to remove them.

It's important to remember that no one treatment is best, and warts can return, especially during the first 3 months after treatment. Antiviral drugs may be prescribed if treatments don't stop the warts from coming back. If you are pregnant, genital warts can cause problems and may need to be removed for a safe delivery of the baby.

Treating Cervical Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer is curable if caught early. Treatment usually involves surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Surgery Options

There are a number of surgery options available.

* Laser Surgery. This is used to kill and remove early stage cancer cells through heat. In early stage cancers,
* Cryosurgery. This may be used to kill and remove early stage cancer cells through cold. may be used to kill and remove cancer cells with heat or cold.
* Conization. During this type of surgery, your doctor will remove a cone shape sample of the cervix. This can be used to test for the presence of cancer, or if the cancer is small, remove it all together.
* Hysterectomy. This type of surgery is used in late stage cancers when it has spread and is performed to remove the uterus and cervix.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells or shrink the size of a cancer growth. During this therapy, strong x-rays or beams of other high energy radiation are directed to the area affected by the cancer.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatments use drugs to kill cancer cells. These therapies affect the entire body, and not just the area where the cancer is. They do cause side effects, but they are very successful in treating cancer.

It's important to know that cervical cancer is a "worst case scenario" with HPV. Most of the time your immune system will prevent the virus from becoming serious.