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Question:
Do all forms of the HPV virus coincide? I have had pap smears come back abnormal and my doctor said i have HPV which can lead to cervical cancer if left untreated but does that mean i could also get genital warts?
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Answer:
by Raven James: (05/31/2006)
Some HPV infections cause no clinical problems and go away on their own without treatment. Some HPV infections lead to genital warts in men and women, and cervical cancer in women. Persistent infection with certain types of HPV is a leading cause of cervical cancer. Progression from HPV infection to invasive cancer is a slow process, estimated to take 10-15 years or longer. It is rare that cervical cancer develops as a result of HPV infection. Nevertheless, regular screening for cancer with Pap test can detect cervical abnormalities that can be treated before they become cancerous. Screening also helps detect cancer at an early stage where it can be cured in over 90 percent of people.
Human Papillomavirus is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva, or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix or rectum. Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus or penis. Others are called "low-risk" types and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts.
An abnormal Pap test result does not necessarily mean you have HPV or cervical cancer. There could be other reasons for an abnormal Pap test result, such as a yeast infection, irritation, or hormonal changes. If your Pap test is abnormal, your doctor may repeat the Pap test, or do an HPV DNA test. If you have a strain that causes genital warts, the warts can take several weeks, up to about nine months to appear. Some people never develop warts from HPV infection. If you become re-infected with another strain of HPV, you could also develop warts from that particular strain. All strains of HPV do not cause genital warts. Warts are diagnosed by visual inspection.
I would recommend you ask your doctor if a HPV DNA test was performed to diagnose the infection, or if it is based on the assumption of the abnormal Pap test result. Reducing your risk for infection of HPV can be done through the use of condoms, but as HPV is passed from skin-to-skin contact, condoms do not always prevent HPV exposure. WomensHealth.gov has more in-depth information on HPV infection as does the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/defaut.htmReviewed by: Patricia Fawver Ph.D. in Sexology
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