What is this all about?
Due to a recent media pushes by various governmental health agencies, more people are aware of the human papillomavirus (HPV) than ever before. Today, one can find public service announcements on television and in print ads regarding this virus. The problem is that these ads do little to explain symptoms, risks, prevention techniques, and treatment options for the virus. And generally, these ad campaigns are geared more towards the women population when the reality is that HPV can have effects on both males and female. All individuals need to know the full spectrum of facts about about HPV.
The Papilloma Family
HPV is part of the larger family of papillomaviruses. All viruses in the family are capable of infecting humans through the mucus membranes. Many of these viruses can go undetected in the human body since most infections generally do not produce symptoms. There are a few viruses in this family which are capable of producing effects such as lesions, warts, and in some cases, cancer.
Types of Papillomaviruses
There are more than 200 types of known human papillomaviruses. Of the known strains, only an estimated 15-25% are capable of being transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact. HPV is one form of the virus which is capable of being spread in this manner. Some forms of HPV spread through sexual contact can cause the development of cancer over time. Most of the forms of HPV transmitted through sexual contact do not produce any type of signs or symptoms in the individual that becomes infected.
Effects on the Human Body
Many people can have some form of HPV, and can be completely unaware of it. This is due to the fact that many strains of the virus have no noticeable effect on the human body. Since there are no signs of infection, patients and doctors have no indicator in many cases that the virus is present. The other reason that HPV is not unusually diagnosed is because there is currently no form of general screening for this type of virus.
Types of Symptoms
Some people who contract HPV which that yeidls sympotoms may only experience it temporarily. There are very few forms of HPV which yield long term effects on the body. Those that carry the disease for longer periods can eventually develop external symptoms such as lesions or warts. In some cases these lesions can become cancerous and life threatening.
Who is infected?
HPV is estimated to be present in more than 25% of people between the ages of 13 and 60 in the United States. Many people’s immune systems will naturally kill off the virus a few years from the time of infection. A small percentage of people will develop lesions or cancer over a period of months to several years after infection. Scientists have found that some forms of the virus have been known to stay dormant in the body anywhere from a few months up to 15 years from the time of the initial infection.
Early Detection
While there is no general test for HPV, the most widely used form of screening are women’s yearly gynecological tests. During the annual pelvic exam, small tissue samples are collected from the cervix and checked for the presence of HPV. This form of screening for the virus is regularly conducted in most developed countries around the world.
Due to a recent media pushes by various governmental health agencies, more people are aware of the human papillomavirus (HPV) than ever before. Today, one can find public service announcements on television and in print ads regarding this virus. The problem is that these ads do little to explain symptoms, risks, prevention techniques, and treatment options for the virus. And generally, these ad campaigns are geared more towards the women population when the reality is that HPV can have effects on both males and female. All individuals need to know the full spectrum of facts about about HPV.
The Papilloma Family
HPV is part of the larger family of papillomaviruses. All viruses in the family are capable of infecting humans through the mucus membranes. Many of these viruses can go undetected in the human body since most infections generally do not produce symptoms. There are a few viruses in this family which are capable of producing effects such as lesions, warts, and in some cases, cancer.
Types of Papillomaviruses
There are more than 200 types of known human papillomaviruses. Of the known strains, only an estimated 15-25% are capable of being transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact. HPV is one form of the virus which is capable of being spread in this manner. Some forms of HPV spread through sexual contact can cause the development of cancer over time. Most of the forms of HPV transmitted through sexual contact do not produce any type of signs or symptoms in the individual that becomes infected.
Effects on the Human Body
Many people can have some form of HPV, and can be completely unaware of it. This is due to the fact that many strains of the virus have no noticeable effect on the human body. Since there are no signs of infection, patients and doctors have no indicator in many cases that the virus is present. The other reason that HPV is not unusually diagnosed is because there is currently no form of general screening for this type of virus.
Types of Symptoms
Some people who contract HPV which that yeidls sympotoms may only experience it temporarily. There are very few forms of HPV which yield long term effects on the body. Those that carry the disease for longer periods can eventually develop external symptoms such as lesions or warts. In some cases these lesions can become cancerous and life threatening.
Who is infected?
HPV is estimated to be present in more than 25% of people between the ages of 13 and 60 in the United States. Many people’s immune systems will naturally kill off the virus a few years from the time of infection. A small percentage of people will develop lesions or cancer over a period of months to several years after infection. Scientists have found that some forms of the virus have been known to stay dormant in the body anywhere from a few months up to 15 years from the time of the initial infection.
Early Detection
While there is no general test for HPV, the most widely used form of screening are women’s yearly gynecological tests. During the annual pelvic exam, small tissue samples are collected from the cervix and checked for the presence of HPV. This form of screening for the virus is regularly conducted in most developed countries around the world.