Human Papillomavirus/ Genital Warts and Herpes

Human Papilloma Virus/ Genital Warts and Herpes

The Human Papilloma Virus otherwise more commonly known as HPV is the most widespread sexually transmitted disease in the US. There are millions of new cases that are being diagnosed annually. According to Medical News Today, “Each year, around 19,400 women and 12,100 men in the U.S. are affected by cancers that stem from HPV”.

Etiology: Some of the most known causes of HPV are the following:

• Genital HPV infections are contracted through skin to skin contact in the genital area, anal sex, and sexual intercourse. Some HPV infections that arise in oral or upper respiratory lesions are acquired through sex orally.
• HPV appears when the virus comes into the body by way of a cut or abrasion on the skin.
• If you are pregnant and have contracted the HPV virus with the genital warts, it may complicate the pregnancy by the warts increasing in size (which would make it hard for the baby to come through the birth canal) and multiplying in numbers.

In a lot of the HPV cases the immune system attacks the virus before the warts have time to develops. If the warts do appear they can appear in different forms and sizes according to the type of HPV you have.

Signs and Symptoms: Some of the most common signs of the disease are the different types of warts. Here are some of them:

• Genital Warts: Genital warts form on the vulva, cervix, vagina or near the anus in woman. In men they form on the penis, scrotum and near the anus. They warts are typically seen as flat lesions or tiny bumps.
• Plantar Warts: Plantar warts are usually found on the heels of the feet. They are hard flesh like bumps.
• Flat Warts: These warts are usually flat in shape, darker in color, and raise just a little above the skin. They are typically found anywhere on the body, with kids they can usually be found on the areas of the face.
• Common Warts: These are spots on the hands, elbows, and fingers that are usually raised.
• Cervical Cancer: In the first stages of cervical cancer you may not develop the warts or any symptoms, which may make it harder to detect. Almost all cervical cancer is caused by some kind of the HPV. According to the Mayo clinic, “Over time, repeated infection of certain HPV strains can lead to precancerous lesions. If not treated, these lesions can become cancerous.”