HPV Testing

HPV testing is a simple process called a (Pap test); the test should be done once a year for women that are sexually active with multiple partners. A Pap test (cervical cytology) is a technique used by your health care provider to detect changes in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the entrance to the uterus, at the top of your vagina. The Pap test is usually done during a woman’s routine pelvic exam.

If your health care provider finds that you are in the high-risk category type of HPV 16 and 18, they may also recommend a HPV DNA as well. The test may be order more frequently for patients that have underlying medical conditions to monitor positive HPV test or any abnormal changes.

Human papillomavirus HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world this is why it is so important for sexually active people to have HPV testing. There are more than 20 million cases  of HPV reported in the United States alone, researchers estimate that the number may be twice that  due to the fact that a person can be infected and not be aware of it.  

While administering a Pap test your health care provider can detect warts and lesions that are not usually visible to the eye. For further investigation of the genital tissue the health care provider may apply acetic acid to areas that look suspicious. The acetic acid process will turn the infected areas white the process is called colposcopy. If a high-risk HPV or (intraepithelial neoplasia) is suspected a biopsy of tissue may be taken to determine if the patient has an increased risk of developing cancer.

As yet a test for men infected with HPV has not been made available. Men can be infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) for up to 5 years before showing any signs or symptoms of the infection. When men have multiple sexual partners they should see their health care provider once a year to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). 

Signs of genital warts for men Warts may be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped and the warts usually do not cause pain. Warts may appear as one or more growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or anus. Warts may appear within weeks months or as long as 5 years after sexual contact with an infected person.

Each time a man or woman becomes sexually active with a new partner they are exposing yourself to any STD that this partner might have had over the past five years.

Human papillomavirus HPV is passed on through sexual contact this occurs during vagina, oral and anal sex and can also be passed through skin to skin contact with an infected genital area.  Because HPV often causes no symptoms, most men and women can have HPV and pass it to a partner without realizing it. People can have HPV even if years have passed since they had sex this is why it is so important for men and women to see their health care provider once a year for HPV testing.