What is HPV?
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) describe a group of more than 200 related viruses that cause warts to grow on different parts of your body. About 40 strains of HPV affect the genitals, while others cause warts to appear on your hands or feet.
However, most people who have HPV don’t even know they’re infected because they never experience symptoms. Anyone infected with HPV can spread the disease, regardless of whether they have warts or not.
HPV usually goes away on its own. However, when it doesn’t, this virus can cause serious problems, like genital warts and cervical cancer.
How do you get HPV?
HPV spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of getting HPV and related complications, such as:
- Getting the HPV vaccine
- Using latex condoms every time you have sex
- Getting screened for cervical cancer with Pap tests
Sometimes, symptoms don’t develop until years after you have sex with an infected person. This can make it difficult to determine when you became infected.
How do I know if I have HPV?
Most of the time, HPV doesn’t cause symptoms, so the best way to know whether you have it is to visit Elite OBGYN, P.C. for routine Pap tests and well-woman exams. A Pap test checks for precancerous changes to your cervical cells, which Dr. Shoman can easily treat before cancer develops.
Dr. Shoman may also discover genital warts on your vulva, vagina, or cervix during a pelvic exam.
Women over 30 may receive an HPV test along with their Pap test. This isn’t recommended for women younger than 30 since HPV is so common among that age group.
How do you treat HPV?
There is no cure for HPV, but Dr. Shoman can treat complications of the disease, such as genital warts or precancerous growths. He treats genital warts with prescription medication, but cervical precancer must be removed during a simple in-office procedure called a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).
To protect yourself against the problems associated with HPV, call Elite OBGYN, P.C., or book an appointment online today.
