- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
What is HPV?
Human Papilloma Virus is the virus that causes genital warts, cervical, vaginal, and anal cancers. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. There are many types of HPV. These types can be divided into two groups: low-risk and high-risk. Low-risk types of HPV virtually never cause cancer. High-risk types of HPV are more likely to cause cancer.
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What are the Symptoms?
Most men and women infected with HPV have no symptoms! Some women may notice unusual growths or bumps on or near the vagina, vulva, or anus. In men, genital warts may appear around the anus or on the penis, scrotum (testicles), groin or thighs. Even men who have never had anal sex can get warts around the anus. Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person, or not at all. A person can have the type of HPV that causes genital warts, but never develop any warts. These warts may be raised, flat, single, or clumped together like cauliflower. The virus may not become apparent for weeks to months to years after initial contact with an HPV-infected partner.
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How Do I Protect Myself?
The only way to completely protect yourself against HPV is through abstinence. Your risk of getting HPV increases with the number of sexual partners you have. Get to know your partner(s) before beginning a sexual relationship. Discuss your past sexual history and any history of STIs. You and your partner(s) should get tested for STIs before starting a sexual relationship. Condoms do help protect you from getting HPV, however they are not 100% effective. HPV is spread through skin-to skin contact, and not all genital skin is covered by a condom. HPV can still be spread by those uncovered areas (including thighs) during sexual contact. HPV can be spread through oral sex, although the risk of spreading the virus is lower than that of anal or vaginal sex. During oral sex, make sure to use a dental dam or make a dental dam by using a condom (cut off the tip, cut up one side, and unfold).
**It is very important to use a condom during vaginal or anal sex to prevent the transmission of HPV and other STIs**
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HPV and Cervical Cancer
The types of HPV linked to cervical cancer usually are not the types that cause genital warts. But a woman with genital warts, like any other sexually active women, should get yearly Pap smears. A Pap smear is a screening test that looks for changes in the cells of the cervix. A Pap test can detect the earliest signs of cervical cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer is highly curable. An HPV test is not done for all types of cervical changes. If you have an abnormal result from a Pap test, your health care provider can tell you if an HPV test was performed. All women who are 21 and over and/or are sexually active should have an annual gynecological exam during which a Pap test will be performed.
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The HPV Vaccine
The HPV vaccine is now available through Suffolk University Health Services.
This vaccine is recommended for all women ages 13-26. The vaccine is very effective, but does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore it is still important to practice safe sex and receive annual Pap tests. The vaccine is 100% effective in preventing the two types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers and is 99% effective in preventing the two types of HPV that cause genital warts. the Suffolk University student health insurance does not currently cover the vaccine at this time. If you have private insurance, you can contact your insurance company to see if the vaccine is covered in your plan. Please contact Suffolk University Health Services for the cost of the vaccine if you are not covered by insurance.
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Can I still get the HPV vaccine if I am older that 26?
Yes! The vaccine is recommended for women ages 13-26 because that is what the vaccine studies were based on. If you are older than 26 and/or if you are sexually active, or plan to be, you can still receive the vaccine.
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Should I get the HPV vaccine if I have already been diagnosed with HPV?
You should check with your healthcare provider. There are over 100 types of HPV. The HPV vaccine is protective against 4 of these types. You may have been diagnosed with non-vaccine HPV type, and therefore you can still be vaccinated to protect yourself from the 4 types that have a high incidence of causing genital warts and cervical cancer.
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HPV Statistics
In the United States:
5.5 million people are infected with HPV each year.
20 million people are currently infected
28-46% of women under the age of 25 have HPV
In Massachusetts:
The overall prevalence of HPV in females is 24%
30% of females age 18-19 have HPV
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HPV and Women in College
HPV is common among women in college. Approximately 14% of college females become infected with HPV each year. Between 40-60% of women will be infected with HPV at some point during their college career. 26% of college women with one sexual partner in the past year have HPV.
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HPV and Men
While most men will not develop health problems from HPV, some men are at higher risk of disease from HPV. HIV-positive men are more likely to get severe and prolonged cases of genital warts, which may be more resistant to treatment. They are also more likely to develop anal cancer.
It is also important for men to realize that they can unknowingly transmit HPV to their female sex partners. Compared to heterosexual men, women are at higher risk of developing disease from HPV—most notably, cervical cancer. Cervical cancer in women is much more common than anal or penile cancer in men. According to ACS, more than 9,700 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. in 2006.
Over half of sexually active men in the United States (U.S.) will have HPV at some time in their lives.
About 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 1,530 men will be diagnosed with penile cancer in the U.S. in 2006. In this country, penile cancer accounts for about 0.2% of all cancers in men. It is especially rare in circumcised men.
ACS estimates that about 1,910 men will be diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006. The risk for anal cancer is 17 times higher among gay and bisexual men than among heterosexual men. The risk is also higher among men with compromised immune systems, including those with HIV
What is HPV?
Human Papilloma Virus is the virus that causes genital warts, cervical, vaginal, and anal cancers. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. There are many types of HPV. These types can be divided into two groups: low-risk and high-risk. Low-risk types of HPV virtually never cause cancer. High-risk types of HPV are more likely to cause cancer.
back to top^What are the Symptoms?
Most men and women infected with HPV have no symptoms! Some women may notice unusual growths or bumps on or near the vagina, vulva, or anus. In men, genital warts may appear around the anus or on the penis, scrotum (testicles), groin or thighs. Even men who have never had anal sex can get warts around the anus. Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person, or not at all. A person can have the type of HPV that causes genital warts, but never develop any warts. These warts may be raised, flat, single, or clumped together like cauliflower. The virus may not become apparent for weeks to months to years after initial contact with an HPV-infected partner.
back to top^How Do I Protect Myself?
The only way to completely protect yourself against HPV is through abstinence. Your risk of getting HPV increases with the number of sexual partners you have. Get to know your partner(s) before beginning a sexual relationship. Discuss your past sexual history and any history of STIs. You and your partner(s) should get tested for STIs before starting a sexual relationship. Condoms do help protect you from getting HPV, however they are not 100% effective. HPV is spread through skin-to skin contact, and not all genital skin is covered by a condom. HPV can still be spread by those uncovered areas (including thighs) during sexual contact. HPV can be spread through oral sex, although the risk of spreading the virus is lower than that of anal or vaginal sex. During oral sex, make sure to use a dental dam or make a dental dam by using a condom (cut off the tip, cut up one side, and unfold).
**It is very important to use a condom during vaginal or anal sex to prevent the transmission of HPV and other STIs**
back to top^HPV and Cervical Cancer
The types of HPV linked to cervical cancer usually are not the types that cause genital warts. But a woman with genital warts, like any other sexually active women, should get yearly Pap smears. A Pap smear is a screening test that looks for changes in the cells of the cervix. A Pap test can detect the earliest signs of cervical cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer is highly curable. An HPV test is not done for all types of cervical changes. If you have an abnormal result from a Pap test, your health care provider can tell you if an HPV test was performed. All women who are 21 and over and/or are sexually active should have an annual gynecological exam during which a Pap test will be performed.
back to top^The HPV Vaccine
The HPV vaccine is now available through Suffolk University Health Services.
This vaccine is recommended for all women ages 13-26. The vaccine is very effective, but does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore it is still important to practice safe sex and receive annual Pap tests. The vaccine is 100% effective in preventing the two types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers and is 99% effective in preventing the two types of HPV that cause genital warts. the Suffolk University student health insurance does not currently cover the vaccine at this time. If you have private insurance, you can contact your insurance company to see if the vaccine is covered in your plan. Please contact Suffolk University Health Services for the cost of the vaccine if you are not covered by insurance.
back to top^Can I still get the HPV vaccine if I am older that 26?
Yes! The vaccine is recommended for women ages 13-26 because that is what the vaccine studies were based on. If you are older than 26 and/or if you are sexually active, or plan to be, you can still receive the vaccine.
back to top^Should I get the HPV vaccine if I have already been diagnosed with HPV?
You should check with your healthcare provider. There are over 100 types of HPV. The HPV vaccine is protective against 4 of these types. You may have been diagnosed with non-vaccine HPV type, and therefore you can still be vaccinated to protect yourself from the 4 types that have a high incidence of causing genital warts and cervical cancer.
back to top^HPV Statistics
In the United States:
- 5.5 million people are infected with HPV each year.
- 20 million people are currently infected
- 28-46% of women under the age of 25 have HPV
In Massachusetts:
- The overall prevalence of HPV in females is 24%
- 30% of females age 18-19 have HPV
HPV and Women in College
HPV is common among women in college. Approximately 14% of college females become infected with HPV each year. Between 40-60% of women will be infected with HPV at some point during their college career. 26% of college women with one sexual partner in the past year have HPV.
back to top^HPV and Men
While most men will not develop health problems from HPV, some men are at higher risk of disease from HPV. HIV-positive men are more likely to get severe and prolonged cases of genital warts, which may be more resistant to treatment. They are also more likely to develop anal cancer.
It is also important for men to realize that they can unknowingly transmit HPV to their female sex partners. Compared to heterosexual men, women are at higher risk of developing disease from HPV—most notably, cervical cancer. Cervical cancer in women is much more common than anal or penile cancer in men. According to ACS, more than 9,700 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. in 2006.
Over half of sexually active men in the United States (U.S.) will have HPV at some time in their lives.
About 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 1,530 men will be diagnosed with penile cancer in the U.S. in 2006. In this country, penile cancer accounts for about 0.2% of all cancers in men. It is especially rare in circumcised men.
ACS estimates that about 1,910 men will be diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006. The risk for anal cancer is 17 times higher among gay and bisexual men than among heterosexual men. The risk is also higher among men with compromised immune systems, including those with HIV