WHAT IS HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS? Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a type of virus gentile wart treatment genital wart treatment that infects the epithelial layer (the outer layer or covering) of the skin and mucous membranes , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentOver 70 different types types of HPV have been identified , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentgentile wart treatment The various types of HPV HPV each have a tendency to infect specific areas of genital wart treatment the body , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment The most common manifestation of HPV is warts , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentThis includes warts warts on gentile wart treatment the skin such as plantar warts or common warts, and warts in the genital area, known as genital warts , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentHowever, many types types of HPV do not cause warts or any other symptoms , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentsymptoms , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentgentile wart treatment genital wart treatment WHY IS GENITAL HPV IMPORTANT? Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentIt is important because certain types of genital HPV infection have been associated associated with an an increased risk of changes in gentile wart treatment genital wart treatment the cells of the cervix, including precancerous conditions and cervical cancer , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment HOW IS GENITAL HPV SPREAD? Genital HPV is spread through direct physical contact contact such as intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, or any other contact involving gentile wart treatment treatment genital wart treatment the genital area , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GENITAL HPV INFECTION? As noted above, some types of HPV can can cause genital warts, which may be associated with discomfort such as itching, burning, or tenderness in gentile wart treatment the genital area , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentHowever, most women with sexually transmitted transmitted HPV do not have any symptoms at all , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentall , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentgentile wart treatment genital wart treatment DOES GENITAL HPV ALWAYS CAUSE CANCER? No , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentResearchers have labeled the HPV types as being at high, medium, or low risk for causing cervical cancer , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentFor example, the HPV viruses that gentile wart treatment that cause cause most genital warts genital wart treatment are not among the identified high risk types , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentBut most women infected with even a high risk type will not go on to develop cervical cancer , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment However, HPV HPV infection has been found to be very common in women who do have cancerous or precancerous changes changes in gentile wart treatment genital wart treatment the cervix , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentThe relationship is so strong that researchers now point to HPV infection as as gentile wart treatment the primary cause of cervical cancer and precancerous changes in the cervix , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment WHY DO SOME WOMEN WITH HPV DEVELOP CANCER AND OTHERS DO NOT? The genital wart treatment The exact reasons are not clear , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentMost Most women who gentile wart treatment are infected with HPV (even high risk types) clear the infection spontaneously , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentIn addition to persistent HPV infection, it may be that other risk factors lead to progression to precancerous or or cancerous conditions of gentile wart treatment treatment genital wart treatment the cervix , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentSome of these risk factors are smoking, having a history of multiple sexual partners, having intercourse at an early age, and a history of other sexually transmitted diseases diseases (show table 1 ) gentile wart treatment , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment WILL MY DOCTOR TEST ME FOR HPV? At At present, testing for HPV is not routine , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentHowever, some doctors may use HPV testing as a way way to determine whether certain women with abnormal Pap smears need further testing for cervical cancer , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentgentile wart treatment genital wart treatment Pap smear The Pap smear is a routine screening test for cervical cervical cancer , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentIt is done done as part of a woman's yearly gynecological exam , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentCells from gentile wart treatment genital wart treatment the cervix are scraped off and sent for analysis , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment A number of different types of abnormalities can be identified on the Pap Pap smear , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentSome of these point to an increased increased risk gentile wart treatment genital wart treatment that cancerous or precancerous cells will be found on further testing , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentIn other cases, the meaning of the results is not as clear , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment gentile wart treatment An abnormal Pap smear always calls for further testing, which may mean additional Pap smears, or other tests tests such as colposcopy, biopsy or, possibly, HPV testing , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentgenital wart treatment Colposcopy A colposcopy is a a test in which a doctor uses a high powered magnifying lens to directly visualize gentile wart treatment the cervix during a pelvic exam , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentIf abnormalities are seen, a biopsy can be done, in which which a sample sample of tissue from gentile wart treatment genital wart treatment the cervix is sent to the lab for detailed analysis , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatment HPV TESTING FOR WOMEN WITH ABNORMAL PAP SMEARS With some kinds of abnormal Pap smear, it is not not clear whether colposcopy is needed , genital wart treatment , gentile wart treatmentgentile wart treatment That is, |