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What is HPV?
HPV is Human Papilloma Virus. There are different types of HPV. Most are low-risk and do not cause symptoms. Some are high risk and are implicated in causing cancer of the cervix,
Some cause skin wart, some cause vulva, vagina warts, anal wart. Some cause cervical Cancer and some cause cancer of the Cervix.
HPV Viruses can spread by sexual contact via vagina, oral and anal sex; sharing sex toys or skin to skin genital contact.
The Role of HPV
The body has the ability to get rid of HPV viruses. HPV tests that was once positive may later be negative if the body immune system has got rid of it.
One may be re-infected at different times. Regular screening tests as per doctor’s instruction is often needed to keep an eye on changes to the cervical cells.
Majority of cervical cancer cases are caused by persistent infection with high‑risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). These persistent infections cause the cells to change from normal to pre-cancerous cells. The pre-cancerous cells do not cause any symptom. They are easy to detect, monitor and eradicate. Hence, cervical cancer has been reduced by 80% in countries with regular screening or surveillance.
How Can HPV be prevented?
There are vaccines available for High Risk HPV. As vaccines are best given before exposure to viruses, HPV vaccines These are given to young girls before sexual exposure
Key facts about HPV:
It affects people of all genders.
Most sexually active people will get HPV at some point.
Only certain high‑risk strains are linked to cervical cancer.
In addition to cervical cancer, HPV is known to cause certain throat, penile, vulva, vagina, anal cancers
Vaccination dramatically reduces the risk of HPV infection and the above cancers hence having the vaccine is crucial in the fight to eradicate cancer of the cervix.