HPV virus has risks that can cause cervical cancer as well as warts that appear in any part of the body. Most of the time, no symptoms appear in every person and it does not cause any danger. However, it is important to have information about the mode of transmission and prevalence of HPV. Transmission of the HPV virus by any means can cause it to spread in people without showing any symptoms. In this case, people may not realize that they carry the virus. If left unnoticed, some types of HPV can cause serious health problems such as genital warts or cervical cancer.
What is HPV?
It is a DNA-derived virus belonging to the Papillomaviridae family and can negatively affect the mouth, throat and genital area by adhering to the human epithelium. HPV has the word “Human” in its name because it occurs only in humans, leading to the virus being called human papillomavirus.
Some types of the HPV virus may cause warts in the genital area, and in some cases may not show any symptoms. However, there are high-risk types of HPV that can cause serious health problems, such as cervical cancer. Because HPV infection does not always cause symptoms, people often cannot recognize the symptoms. The infection may seem to clear up on its own, but in some strains the virus can become lodged in the body and cause serious health problems.
Different types of HPV virus can infect different parts of the body, and some types are more common in the genital area. HPV virus occurring in the genital area poses a particular risk of cervical cancer. Types of HPV that occur in other parts of the body can often cause warts and carry a lower risk of cancer.
How is HPV transmitted?
When this virus is researched, it is often asked “Why is HPV transmitted?” question is asked. Since the HPV virus can live on human skin, it is most commonly transmitted through skin contact. Genital HPV types are transmitted through sexual contact. After sexual contact with an HPV carrier, the virus is transmitted to another person. Although it is thought that this virus is generally transmitted sexually, there is also a risk of transmission from common areas such as saunas, Turkish baths and public toilets.
What are the symptoms of HPV?
The virus can appear in different ways in men and women. Its symptoms in men are the appearance of visible warts. These warts can appear on the penis, ovaries, or groin area. In women, symptoms may vary depending on the region where the virus is infected. If it settles on any part of the skin, swelling and a cauliflower-like appearance may occur. Some redness and various symptoms may occur in the uterine area.
When researching whether HPV can be detected, the question “What is the HPV test?” The question is also asked. This test is also often called a smear test. “How is HPV tested?” In answer to the question, we can say that gynecological examination is done by examining a swab taken from the cervix area with the help of a brush.
A positive HPV test does not mean that you will have cancer. In HPV tests performed in our country, approximately 4.5% of women between the ages of 30-65 have a positive HPV test.
Does HPV kill?
The HPV virus does not have a fatal effect on its own. However, some types of HPV can cause various cancers in men and women. Therefore, it is a disorder that requires extreme attention. In short, early diagnosis of the HPV virus is vital, as in other diseases.
How is HPV treated?
The person carrying the HPV virus is informed about the treatment process by the specialist doctor. Some of the treatment methods for removing warts on the body are as follows:
- Cautery: An electric current is passed to the area where the warts are located with a needle-tipped device, and the aim is to dry the warts with this method. During this procedure, the person is given local anesthesia to prevent the feeling of pain. By removing the warts, the lesions decrease.
- Laser: In laser treatment, warts are removed by vaporization. In laser treatment, damage to healthy tissues in the area is minimized. There is less risk of scarring after treatment. In this way, warts are eliminated in a more controlled manner, and its reliability is higher than other methods.
- Radiofrequency: Radiofrequency, whose use has become widespread with the development of technology, is used to remove warts. HPV wart treatment with radiofrequency is similar to cautery treatment.
- Cryotherapy: It is the name given to the freezing process. When freezing is applied to the area where the wart is located, the warts swell and dry out and fall off.
- Surgical: In this method, the warts of the person under local anesthesia are cut and removed.
- Medication: Keratolytics are used to dry the warts along with the HPV virus in them.
HPV vaccine is a method of administration that provides a preventive effect against human papillomavirus infections. HPV vaccine can be administered to individuals who are not sexually active or to individuals who are sexually active. Although the vaccine is not a single treatment for the infection, the purpose of the prescribed treatment is to treat diseases caused by the virus. Appropriate doses of HPV vaccine are recommended for children aged 11-12 years to provide protection before contracting the virus. HPV vaccine can be administered to every individual starting from the age of 9 and it is recommended for everyone up to the age of 26. HPV vaccine can also be administered to adults between the ages of 27-45, depending on the individual’s risk status.
HPV vaccine is administered in a series of 2 or 3 doses, taking into account the age of first vaccination. People vaccinated before age 15 usually need 2 doses of HPV vaccine. People who get their first dose at age 15 or later, and younger people with certain conditions that lower their immune system, need 3 doses. The HPV vaccine is not recommended for women who are pregnant. Pregnant women must wait until birth to receive the vaccine.