The Human papilloma virus (HPV, or in English, human papillomavirus) is one of the most common Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) today, and its contagion is very common in people around the world.
Presenting different levels of health risk, more than a hundred different types of Human Papillomavirus are known; from those that do not present symptoms or pose any threat to health (harmless), to the most aggressive types of viruses for the human body, which can lead to being the cause of oncological pathologies.
For this reason, the different types of Human Papillomavirus are classified into two large groups: those that cause low-risk infections, whose most common symptom is the appearance of warts and that can be treated and eliminated; and those of high risk, which can cause greater adverse effects in patients, increasing the risk of suffering a genital cancer if it is not treated properly and in a timely manner..
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In many cases, Human Papillomavirus does not cause any symptoms in infected people, so most people infected with HPV and carrying the virus do not even know that they are..
However, of the more than 100 known types of human papillomavirus, about a third can produce recognizable symptoms..
The main symptoms suffered by patients affected by the Human Papilloma Virus is the appearance of warts on the hands, feet and / or genitals, where they are also known as condyloma acuminata..
Regarding high-risk viruses, although they are not the most common, they can also generate subclinical infections, and even in women generate lesions on the cervix, promote the development of cervical, vaginal, anal, or anal cancer. vulva, and in the case of men, being the causative factor in the evolution of cancer of the penis or anus.
Despite these possible symptoms and as we have mentioned, in many cases the virus is low risk, the infection does not present any recognizable sign, or even if it does, it is harmless if treated in time.
For this reason, if you experience any of the symptoms, it is best to consult your gynecologist or urologist as soon as possible..
As it is a sexually transmitted disease, the most common causes of contagion, and practices that increase the risk of contracting the virus are the same as the rest of the diseases in this group: having sex with different partners, having low defenses at the time from exposure to the immune virus (a depressed immune system) and unprotected sex.
Given this last indication, clarify that although the use of a condom exponentially decreases the risk of contracting this disease, the Human Papilloma Virus can affect other areas of the skin not necessarily covered by the prophylactic, so it is possible to be infected by having sex with an infected person despite its use.
The use of a condom protects from infection in 70% of cases, but there is still a 30% risk of contracting the disease due to exposure to areas not covered by the condom or its incorrect use.
Human Papillomaviruses are transmitted in the vast majority of cases during sexual intercourse, establishing contact with the skin of infected external genitalia, mucous membranes or body fluids during intercourse, since they are easily contagious through these areas. as well as the moist layers around the genital and anal areas.
On the other hand, and as we have already mentioned, one of the main risk factors is due to the fact that not all people who carry the virus have symptoms, so they are unaware that when they have sex they can spread the virus to another person who does. Present.
At present, no specific treatment has been established for patients affected with the Human Papilloma Virus, and in many cases, the virus disappears (or decreases its presence until it becomes undetectable), with the same passage of time..
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the body's immune system clears HPV naturally within two years for 90% of infected patientsiv.
But this does not mean that when presenting symptoms, it is still necessary to consult a specialist, on the contrary: early diagnosis is key in cases of high-risk viruses.
On the other hand, treatments, depending on the severity of the infection, range from topical creams that help combat the effect of the virus, to other more far-reaching methods for high-risk infections, reaching surgery in severe cases..
Regarding prevention, there are currently vaccines against the Human Papilloma Virus, which make it possible to avoid up to 70% of serious cases (eliminating the risk of uterine cancer in women), and their use is every more common to prevent the risk of infection from adolescence.
"CDC, Human Papillomavirus (HPV)" (in English Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Accessed Eero 22, 2015. "What are the signs, symptoms, and possible health consequences of HPV?"
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