Human papillomavirus (HPV) refers to a group of viruses that are commonly transmitted through sexual contact and can cause genital warts or cervical cancer. While most HPV infections cause no symptoms and resolve on their own, regular screening is important for detecting high-risk strains that could lead to cervical cancer if left untreated. Vaccines exist to help prevent HPV transmission but there is currently no cure once infected.

1. HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)
 Human Papillomavirus or HPV refers to a group of viruses
(approx. 100 types); forty of the types are transmitted through
sexual contact; the virus often clears on its own, but in some
cases, can lead to genital warts, cervical cancer, and other
complications.

2. CAN YOU TELL ME MORE?
 Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, is a virus that is transferred
from the mucous membranes and skin of one person to
another during sexual contact.
 Like many other viruses, it embeds itself deep in the skin and
can lay dormant for long periods of time without causing any
physical symptoms.
 The vast majority of infected people are unaware of their
condition – this enables it to be more -easily spread to new
hosts.
(Symptoms, 2012)

3. HOW DOES HPV IMPACT ME?
 It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the US
– approx. 20 million people have an active HPV infection
 5.5 million new cases of genital HPV infection occur in the
United States each year.
 Most men and women – about 80 percent of sexually active
people – are infected with HPV at some point in their lives,
but most people never know they have the virus.
(Cleveland Clinic, 2011)

4. ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS?
 While there are usually no symptoms associated with HPV,
there are some things to remember:
 The most common, visible HPV symptom in women is genital
warts
 Warts can appear in dif ferent manners (flattened, cauliflower -
like growths, raised bumps); they vary in color (sometimes
pink or variations of the woman’s normal skin tone).
 2/3 of the 40 recognized forms of sexually -transmitted HPV,
can cause genital warts.
(Symptoms, 2012)

5. HPV – CERVICAL CANCER?
 There are 13 types of sexually -transmitted HPV that do not
cause warts, but the potential health risks are significantly
higher.
 “High-risk” strains of the virus never display overt symptoms
and can only be detected through Pap tests or specific HPV
tests. (Symptoms, 2012)
 Of the women who do develop abnormal cell changes with
high-risk types of HPVs, only a small percentage would
develop cervical cancer if the abnormal cells were not
removed. (Cancer, 2012)

6. HPV PREVENTION
 Having many sexual partners is a risk factor for HPV infection.
 While insisting on your partner’s use of a condom can
definitely reduce the risk of contracting HPV, it is far from a
perfect form of protection. Because any skin -on-skin contact
can lead to transmission of the virus, covering the genitals
alone is often inef fective.
 Preventative HPV vaccines like Gardisil and Cervarix are now
being administered to girls as young as 12 years of age.
 Getting regularly -scheduled Pap/HPV tests are crucial steps
that will allow you to identify any potential issues early
enough to treat them.
(Symptoms, 2012)

7. IS THERE A CURE?
 There is no cure for the virus itself, but many HPV infections
go away on their own. Approx. 70% to 90% of the time, HPV is
cleared from the body by the immune system. (Cleveland,
2011)
 If you have already contracted HPV, vaccination will not cure
you of the virus. It can, however, prevent you from acquiring
any other forms to which you have not been exposed.

8. CONCLUSION
 Regardless of the presence of symptoms, if you are sexually
active, it is paramount to have routine Pap tests, HPV tests,
and check-ups.
 Its your future – be there healthy!

9. SOURCES
 Symptoms of HPV in Women . Copyright 2012. “Symptoms of
HPV in Women: What is HPV?” Retrieved from
http://www.symptomsofhpvinwomen.net/ 2011/10/19/what-is-
hpv/
 Cleveland Clinic. Copyright 2011 . “Diseases and Conditions:
Understanding HPV”. Retrieved from http://
my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/ genital_war ts/hic_understan
ding_hpv.aspx
 Cancer. Copyright 2012. “Cancer: HPV Virus”. Retrieved from
http://cancer.about.com/od/cervicalcancer/a/whatishpv.htm