HPV Infection: Symptoms and Diagnosis
Introduction
HPV, or human papillomavirus, spreads from person to person through anal, vaginal or oral sex. More than half of sexually active people get HPV at some point, but most don’t know it. This is because HPV often has no apparent symptoms and goes away on its own. But in some instances, undiagnosed and untreated HPV can cause genital warts and even cancer.
What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a group of viruses that infect humans’ skin and mucous membranes. HPV is among the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) worldwide. It can affect both men and women.
What are the Types of HPV?
There are various types of HPV, and they are categorised as either low-risk or high-risk based on their potential to cause health problems.
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Low-risk HPV
These types of HPV usually do not cause cancer but can lead to the formation of benign growths known as genital warts. These warts appear on the genital and anus areas and sometimes the mouth. Other low-risk HPV infections can cause warts on arms, hands, feet, or chest.
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High-risk HPV
High-risk HPV infections typically do not manifest symptoms and often resolve within a year or two. However, certain high-risk HPV infections can persist for an extended period, potentially leading to the development of cancer. HPV is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer. But long-lasting infections can also increase the risk of other cancers. These include anus, vagina, penis, mouth, and throat cancer.
What are the common HPV symptoms?
HPV infections often remain asymptomatic, leaving many people unaware of their infection. In most instances, the immune system clears HPV viruses within two years, whether high-risk or low-risk. But there are certain instances where the body fails to clear the infection.
In women, HPV can persist even years after exposure to an infected individual. HPV infection may cause:
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Genital warts (low-risk HPV)
These genital warts appear as small bumps or groups of bumps in the genital area. They can be flat or raised, small or large, and may resemble cauliflower-like structures. Though they rarely lead to cancer.
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Cancer (high-risk HPV infection)
High-risk HPV infections can be linked to various cancers affecting the vagina, vulva, anus, throat, tongue, or tonsils. Among these, cervical cancer is the most common.
Symptoms of cervical cancer arising from HPV infection may include:
- Bleeding following vaginal intercourse
- Heavier-than-usual menstrual periods
- Bleeding post pelvic examination
- Bleeding after menopause
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Pain during sexual intercourse
What are HPV tests?
An HPV test is important for anyone with a cervix. It’s because almost all cervical cancer cases stem from high-risk HPV infections. To prevent cervical cancer, healthcare providers use HPV screening tests to identify and remove these pre-cancerous lesions. There are three main types of HPV screening-
- Primary HPV test- It is a Pap smear that specifically detects high-risk HPV strains.
- Pap smear- It looks for changes in cervical cells that may indicate the presence of HPV and early signs of cervical cancer.
- HPV/Pap co-testing- It checks for both cervical cell changes and the presence of high-risk HPV strains in the same sample.
Besides that, if a Pap smear shows HPV presence, a colposcopy may be done. In this test, a colposcope, a special microscope with a light, is used to examine the cervix closely. Another test is a cervical biopsy, which involves taking a small cervical tissue sample for HPV diagnosis and early cervical cancer detection.
Note that this HPV test is only for women, not men. Also, it primarily detects cervical cancer and not other types of cancer.
Who should get an HPV test?
According to the American Cancer Society’s recommendation, women aged 30-65 are advised to have an HPV test. Also, any woman, regardless of age, who receives an abnormal pap smear result must undergo an HPV test.
However, an HPV test for women is not recommended for those younger than 30 with normal Pap smear results. It’s because most HPV infections in young women clear up without treatment. Also, cervical cancer is rare in this age group.
What are the available HPV treatments?
There’s no treatment for the human papillomavirus infection itself. However, there are various HPV treatment options available to manage the symptoms, like genital warts caused by human papillomavirus. It includes cryotherapy, electrosurgery, over-the-counter medication, or topical creams containing podophyllin, imiquimod, or sinecatechins.
