by Tanja Zagaschtoko-Mathias

Created on: July 10, 2008   Last Updated: July 26, 2009

Human papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV, is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), with the fastest growing rate of infected individuals within the family of STDs. Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects both females and males, but affects both differently. HPV transmission can happen with any kind of sexual, genital contact with someone who has HPV.

Many people who have HPV don't even know it, since the virus often has no signs or symptoms, other than genital warts. That means HPV transmission can happen without anyone knowing it.

The major symptom of the HPV is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina). Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is not passed down through family genes. Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of a virus, human papillomavirus or HPV.

The most common treatment for HPV in women is an annual pap smear, or cervical screening. But, annual pap smears do not diagnose HPV. When a woman is infected with certain types of HPV, and the virus doesn't go away on its own, abnormal or atypical cells can develop in the lining of the cervix. Atypical cervical cells are cells in the lining of the cervix that have changed in appearance. Pap tests look for abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix before they have the chance to become precancers or cervical cancer. The more severe the cervical abnormality, the more likely it is that cervical cancer could develop in the future. If these abnormal cells are not found early and treated, precancers and then cervical cancer can develop.

There currently is no cure for the human papillomavirus; However, recently in the medical arena, there has been a vaccine developed for fighting against cervical cancer, called Gardasil. Gardasil is the only cervical cancer vaccine on the market, protecting women against cervical cancer and genital warts.
While certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause cervical cancer, other types can cause genital warts. HPV doesn't discriminate. Men and women can both have genital warts. Warts may be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. They usually do not hurt.

Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person. Unlike cervical cancer, genital warts are not life threatening. But, they can be life altering. Even after treatment, genital warts can come back. There is a HPV test to screen for high risk types of HPV, called digene HPV test, which tests the cells from the pap screening. In combination, pap smears and HPV Tests can significantly diagnose atypival cells and the presence of HPV in women. Unfortunately, there are no approved tests to find HPV or cancers in men. But HPV is very common and most men with HPV will never develop health problems from it.

An important factor in sexually active individuals is to practice safe sex. Scheduling annual cervical cancer screenings with medical doctors, and to ask important questions aout HPV is highly recommended. Having the right information and answers about health conditions are the first steps in remaining healthy.

Learn more about this author, Tanja Zagaschtoko-Mathias.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.