WHAT IS HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS? — Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a type of virus genitla wart treatment genital warts treatment that infects the epithelial layer (the outer layer or covering) of the skin and mucous membranes , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentOver 70 different types types of HPV have been identified , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentgenitla wart treatment The various types of HPV HPV each have a tendency to infect specific areas of genital warts treatment the body , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatment

The most common manifestation of HPV is warts , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentThis includes warts warts on genitla wart treatment the skin such as plantar warts or common warts, and warts in the genital area, known as genital warts , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentHowever, many types types of HPV do not cause warts or any other symptoms , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentsymptoms , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentgenitla wart treatment genital warts treatment

WHY IS GENITAL HPV IMPORTANT? — Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentIt is important because certain types of genital HPV infection have been associated associated with an an increased risk of changes in genitla wart treatment genital warts treatment the cells of the cervix, including precancerous conditions and cervical cancer , genital warts treatment , genitla 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 genitla wart treatment treatment genital warts treatment the genital area , genital warts treatment , genitla 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 genitla wart treatment the genital area , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentHowever, most women with sexually transmitted transmitted HPV do not have any symptoms at all , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentall , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentgenitla wart treatment genital warts treatment

DOES GENITAL HPV ALWAYS CAUSE CANCER? — No , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentResearchers have labeled the HPV types as being at high, medium, or low risk for causing cervical cancer , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentFor example, the HPV viruses that genitla wart treatment that cause cause most genital warts genital warts treatment are not among the identified high risk types , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentBut most women infected with even a high risk type will not go on to develop cervical cancer , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatment

However, HPV HPV infection has been found to be very common in women who do have cancerous or precancerous changes changes in genitla wart treatment genital warts treatment the cervix , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentThe relationship is so strong that researchers now point to HPV infection as as genitla wart treatment the primary cause of cervical cancer and precancerous changes in the cervix , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatment

WHY DO SOME WOMEN WITH HPV DEVELOP CANCER AND OTHERS DO NOT? — The genital warts treatment The exact reasons are not clear , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentMost Most women who genitla wart treatment are infected with HPV (even high risk types) clear the infection spontaneously , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentIn addition to persistent HPV infection, it may be that other risk factors lead to progression to precancerous or or cancerous conditions of genitla wart treatment treatment genital warts treatment the cervix , genital warts treatment , genitla 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 ) genitla wart treatment , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatment

WILL MY DOCTOR TEST ME FOR HPV? — At At present, testing for HPV is not routine , genital warts treatment , genitla 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 warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentgenitla wart treatment genital warts treatment

Pap smear — The Pap smear is a routine screening test for cervical cervical cancer , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentIt is done done as part of a woman's yearly gynecological exam , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentCells from genitla wart treatment genital warts treatment the cervix are scraped off and sent for analysis , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatment

A number of different types of abnormalities can be identified on the Pap Pap smear , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentSome of these point to an increased increased risk genitla wart treatment genital warts treatment that cancerous or precancerous cells will be found on further testing , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentIn other cases, the meaning of the results is not as clear , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatment

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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 warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentgenital warts treatment

Colposcopy — A colposcopy is a a test in which a doctor uses a high powered magnifying lens to directly visualize genitla wart treatment the cervix during a pelvic exam , genital warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentIf abnormalities are seen, a biopsy can be done, in which which a sample sample of tissue from genitla wart treatment genital warts treatment the cervix is sent to the lab for detailed analysis , genital warts treatment , genitla 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 warts treatment , genitla wart treatmentgenitla wart treatment That is,