Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
HPV is a viral infection and is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is spread through skin to skin contact with an infected person. Some forms of HPV cause genital warts. Other forms of HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women. It is important for sexually active women to get regular pap tests to screen for abnormal cells in the cervix.
HPV can be spread through sexual contact, even if a person does not have any visible warts. HPV can also be passed to a child during childbirth.
Testing
If you think you have genital warts, your health care provider can verify their presence through a physical examination. Other strains of HPV that don’t result in genital warts are harder to detect. For women, a pap test can be done. There is also an HPV screening test that more accurately screens for HPV in a woman’s cervix. This test also involves taking a swab of the cervix, but the method of testing itself is different from a pap test. There is a cost associated with the HPV screening test.
Treatment
HPV cannot be cured, but there are treatments available for genital warts. Visible external warts can be removed by a doctor through a variety of methods including cryotherapy (freezing the warts off) and other treatments. Internal warts can be removed through laser treatment or minor surgery.
HPV is a manageable infection. In some communities, HPV support groups operate to help people who are living with the infection. If you would like to learn more about HPV or safer sex practices contact your doctor, local member of Canadian Federation for Sexual Health or public health unit for more information. The website www.hpvinfo.ca has additional online information.