Cervical HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 93% of all cervical cancers, yet over 75% of women in the U.S. know nothing about this sexually transmitted disease (STD). The lack of knowledge concerning cervical HPV can be life threatening.

There are more than 100 types of HPV, 16 and 18 are usually present when cervical HPV cancer of the cervix, vagina or vulva are found during testing. The more common HPV infections that are the cause common warts are the noncancerous types 6 and 11.

Women can be infected with HPV for up to 5 years before they realize they have the disease, you can be infected without showing any signs or symptoms. When the warts do appear they are very hard to detect, due to the fact that they are flesh colored and rarely cause any pain. When any unusual growths or bumps appear that are flesh colored or you experience unusual bleeding itching and pain you need to call your health care provider for a consolation.

If you are sexually active with more than one partner you should have a (Pap test) once a year, the test will show any unusual cell changes that can be the first sign of cervical HPV cancer. Each time you are sexually active with a new partner you are exposing yourself to every partner, they have been sexually active with over the past 5 years.

Penetration does not have to take place for you to become infected with HPV you can become infected through skin to skin contact with the genital area of an infected partner. HPV infection can also be passed through oral and anal sex as well.

Condoms will be recommended for protecting yourself against cervical HPV by your health care provider. Using a condom is not a guarantee that you will not become infected with HPV the entire infected genital area may not be covered and the anus is exposed also.

In some rare cases people have become infected by using towels and wearing clothing that an HPV infected person has used before them.