What is HPV?
HPV is short for human papilloma (pap-uh-LO-mah) virus. HPVs are a group of over 100 related viruses. Each HPV virus in the group is given a number, which is called an HPV type. HPVs are called papilloma viruses because some of the HPV types cause warts, or papillomas, which are non-cancerous tumors. The papilloma viruses are attracted to and are able to live only in squamous epithelial cells in the body. Squamous epithelial cells are thin, flat cells that are found on the surface of the skin, cervix, vagina, anus, vulva, head of the penis, mouth, and throat. HPVs will not grow in other parts of the body.
Of the more than 100 strains of HPV, about 60 HPV types cause warts on non-genital skin, such as on the hands and feet. These are the common warts.
The other 40 HPV types are mucosal types of HPV. "Mucosal" refers to the body’s mucous membranes, or the moist skin-like layers that line organs and cavities of the body that open to the outside. For example, the vagina and anus have a moist skin-like layer. The mucosal HPV types are also called the genital (or anogenital) type HPVs because they typically affect the anal and genital area. The mucosal HPVs prefer the moist squamous cells found in this area. They do not prefer the skin of the hands and feet.
Some types of genital HPVs can cause cauliflower-shaped warts to appear on or around the genitals and anus of both men and women. In women, visible warts may also appear on the cervix and vagina. This type of "genital wart" is known technically as condyloma acuminatum and is most often caused by HPV-6 or HPV-11. Because these genital warts rarely develop into cancer, HPV-6 and HPV-11 are called "low-risk" viruses. These low-risk types can also cause low-grade cervix cell changes that do not develop into cancer.
Other genital type HPVs have been linked with genital or anal cancers in both men and women. They also cause low and high-grade cervix cell changes and pre-cancers. These are called "high-risk" HPV types and include HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31, HPV -35, HPV-39, HPV-45, HPV-51, HPV-52, and HPV-58, as well as some others.
How do you get HPV?
Genital HPV is transmitted mainly by direct genital contact during vaginal or anal intercourse. It is not spread through bodily fluids, nor does it live in blood, or any organs.
Infection is very common soon after a woman becomes sexually active. In one recent study, more than 50% of college age women were found to have acquired an HPV infection within 4 years of first having sex.
Transmission by genital contact without intercourse is not common, but infection has been reported in women who did not have a history of intercourse. Oral-genital and hand-genital transmission of some genital HPV types is possible and has been reported. Transmission from mother to newborn during delivery is rare. When it occurs, it can lead to development of warts in the infant’s throat called respiratory papillomatosis.
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The Human PapillomaVirus
One of the lead researchers in the John Hopkins study, Dr. Michele Manos, found that HPV also has a direct link to anal cancer and about half of the rare cases of penile.
This virus may be one of the most common sexually transmitted disease (STDs). In this country alone there are an estimated 10 to 20 million women between the ages of 19 to 49 who are infected with HPV. It is quite amazing that this extremely common virus does not cause more cases of cervical cancer. This is mostly due to the prevalence of Pap smears in this county. Worldwide, however, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and is by far the most fatal cancer of women in developing countries. About 80% of the half a million new cases of cervical cancer each year are from Third World nations.
HPV can be asymptomatic, especially in men. More than 75% of men who have HPV exhibit no signs of it. This aspect of HPV is why it is so pervasive in that people do not know they have it and spread it to their partners. HPv usually doen not cause a problem, although researchers believe there are contributors which assist HPV in becoming toxic:
- Early sexual activity. Women who become sexually active by age 16 are five times more likely to get cervical cancer than women who wait until 24.
- Large number of sexual partners. As with any STD, the more partners one has, the hight the risk of getting dysplasia which is a precursor to cervical cancer.
- Genital warts. They may be an indication of exposure to a related HPV which is less benign.
- Smoking
- HIV or AIDS.
- A mother who took the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy.
