Human papillomavirus (HPV): Treatment, symptoms, and causes 1/17/18, 8:11 PM

What is human papillomavirus

(HPV)?
By Lori Smith BSN MSN CRNP | Last updated Wed 29 November 2017

Reviewed by Justin Choi, MD

Treatment Symptoms Causes Risk factors Diagnosis Prevention

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually

transmitted infection. Most sexually active men and women
being exposed to the virus at some point during their
lifetime.
The virus is common in the United States and there are approximately 14 million newly
diagnosed cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) annually.

There are different types of HPV. Some can lead to genital warts and others can cause some
types of cancer. Each year, around 19,400 women and 12,100 men in the U.S. are affected by
cancers that stem from HPV. Vaccines can protect against infection.

In this article, we will explain what HPV is, how it is passed between people, any symptoms
that could occur, and information about treatment, vaccines, and prevention.

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Fast facts on HPV

Here are some key points about human papillomavirus. More detail and supporting
information is in the main article.

• Most sexually active men and women will contract the HPV virus at some point
during their lifetime.

• HPV can be spread through oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

• It can result in genital warts and some types of cancer.

• Sometimes, HPV can be transmitted during birth to an infant causing genital or

respiratory system infections.

• There is no cure for HPV but safe and effective vaccinations are recommended at
the age of 11 to 12 years.

Treatment
Different types of HPV will have different
symptoms. HPV viruses can lead to genital
warts and cancer.

There is no treatment for the virus, but the

symptoms can be treated.

Prevention is through the HPV vaccine.

Salicylic acid is used to treat some warts.

Warts

Warts that result from HPV will often resolve without treatment.

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However, there are medications that can be applied to the skin to remove the wart itself;
these include over-the-counter (OTC) salicylic acid for common warts.

Prescription medications include:

Podophyllin (chemical applied by a doctor)

Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara)

Podofilox (Condylox)

Trichloroacetic acid (chemical applied by a doctor)

In certain situations, surgical interventions may be necessary and include:

Cryotherapy: This method uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the abnormal areas.

Electrocautery: Electrical current is used to burn the abnormal areas.

Laser therapy: A light beam removes unwanted tissue.

Interferon injection: This is rarely used due to the high risk of side effects and cost.

Surgical removal

It is important to speak with a doctor about which treatment is best, depending on the type
and location of the wart being treated.

It is also important to note that, although warts and cellular changes may be removed or
resolved, the virus can remain in the body and can be passed to others. There is no treatment
to remove the virus from the body.

Cancer

Routine Pap tests and other types of screening can provide an early diagnosis, if cancer
develops. Measures can be taken to treat any cancer and prevent it from developing.

Symptoms

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Human papillomavirus (HPV): Treatment, symptoms, and causes 1/17/18, 8:11 PM

HPV may not cause symptoms at once, but they can appear years later. Some types can lead
to warts, while others can cause cancer.

Warts

Common symptoms of some types of HPV are warts, especially genital warts.

Genital warts may appear as a small bump, cluster of bumps, or stem-like protrusions. They
commonly affect the vulva in women, or possibly the cervix, and the penis or scrotum in men.
They may also appear around the anus and in the groin.

They can range in size and appearance and be large, small, flat, or cauliflower shaped, and
may be white or flesh tone.

Other warts associated with HPV include common warts, plantar, and flat warts.

Common warts - rough, raised bumps most commonly found on the hands, fingers, and
elbows.

Plantar warts - described as hard, grainy growths on the feet; they most commonly appear on
the heels or balls of the feet.

Flat warts - generally affect children, adolescents, and young adults; they appear as flat-
topped, slightly raised lesions that are darker than normal skin color and are most commonly
found on the face, neck, or areas that have been scratched.

Cancer

Other types of HPV can increase the risk of developing cancer. These cancers include cancer
of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx, or the base of the tongue and
tonsils. It may take years or decades for cancer to develop.

RELATED ARTICLE

How to treat a wart

A wart is a small growth with a rough texture that can appear anywhere on the body.

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Human papillomavirus (HPV): Treatment, symptoms, and causes 1/17/18, 8:11 PM

READ NOW

Causes
HPV is a virus that is passed skin-to-skin
through sexual intercourse or other forms of
skin-to-skin contact of the genitals.

While most HPV infections are benign,

causing warts on areas of the body including
the hands, feet, and genitals, there are
certain strains that put a person at a higher
risk of developing certain types of cancers.

HPV can infect anyone who is sexually active;

HPV can infect anyone who is sexually active
many times, infected individuals are
asymptomatic, meaning they display no
symptoms of the virus.

Although most HPV infections resolve themselves, sometimes, they can remain dormant and
later infect a new or existing sexual partner.

HPV can be transmitted to the infant during birth; this can cause a genital or respiratory
system infection.

It is important to note that the strains of HPV that cause warts are different from the group of
HPV strains that cause cancer.

Risk factors
Some factors increase the risk of contracting the HPV virus.

These include:

having a higher number of intimate partners

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having sex with someone who has had several intimate partners

having a weakened immune system, for example, due to HIV or after having an organ
transplant

having areas of damaged skin.

having personal contact with warts or surfaces where HPV exposure has occurred

RELATED ARTICLE

HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Most information about HPV focuses on women, but it can also cause health problems in
men.

READ NOW

Diagnosis
If warts or lesions are visible, a doctor can generally make a diagnosis of HPV during a visual
inspection. However, additional tests may be needed to confirm the presence of HPV.

When should I get tested for HPV?

Tests to evaluate for HPV or HPV-related cervical cellular changes include a Pap smear, a
DNA test, and the use of acetic acid (vinegar).

A Pap smear is a test that collects cells from the surface of the cervix or the vagina and will
reveal any cellular abnormalities that may lead to cancer.

The use of a DNA test will evaluate for the high-risk types of HPV and is recommended for
women 30 and older in conjunction with a Pap smear.

There is also a DNA test for HPV, which can be used alone without the need for concurrent
Pap testing starting at age 25.

At times, a biopsy of any abnormal areas may be necessary.

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Currently, there is no test available for men to check for HPV; diagnosis is made primarily on
visual inspection. In certain situations, if men or women have a history of receptive anal sex, it
may be advisable to speak with a doctor regarding the possibility of undergoing an anal Pap
smear.

Prevention
Measures that can reduce the risk of
contracting HPV include:

having the HPV vaccine

practicing safe sex

practicing abstinence or being in a

monogamous sexual relationship

not having sex while there are visible

genital warts
There are three HPV vaccines currently on the market.

It is hard to prevent common warts. If a wart

is present, people should avoid picking it or biting finger nails. For plantar warts, it is
recommended that shoes or sandals be worn in public areas such as pools and locker rooms.

Vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend vaccination at the age of
11 to 12 years, to reduce the risk of cervical and other cancers developing in future.

The vaccine is given in two doses, 6 to 12 months apart. Catch-up vaccines are recommended
for males up to the age of 21 years and females up to 26 years who did not receive the
vaccination at a younger age. Gay and bisexual men are encouraged to have the vaccination
up to the ages of 26 years.

Currently, there are three HPV vaccines on the market: Gardasil, Cervarix, and Gardasil 9.
Speak with a doctor to see if vaccination is appropriate.

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Human papillomavirus (HPV): Treatment, symptoms, and causes 1/17/18, 8:11 PM

Latest research into HPV

Medical News Today is a leading publisher of medical research. All of our latest news about
HPV can be found in our HPV news section.

ADVERTISEMENT

Additional information

Article last updated by Yvette Brazier on Wed 29 November 2017.

Visit our Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our
newsletter to receive the latest updates on Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine.

All references are available in the References tab.

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