There are many different types of human papillomavirus, or HPV virus for short.
Many of them are harmless - but some representatives can also cause dangerous cancer.
The diagnosis of "HPV infection" is frightening.
Affected people associate the viral infection with cervical cancer, one or more malignant tumors of the uterus.
But the term HPV stands for a large group of viruses, not all of which cause cancer.
Certain human papilloma viruses "only" cause harmless cell changes such as warts.
But how do you even know that you are infected?
How can this be prevented and how is HPV infection treated?
What are human papilloma viruses?
According to the Cancer Information Service (dkfz), more than 200 different types of human papillomavirus are known.
Depending on which virus a person is infected with, the consequences also differ.
There are infections that heal completely on their own or those that cause harmless warts to sprout
.
In some cases, however, HPV infection also leads to malignant cell changes that can lead to cervical cancer or other cancers.
The viruses penetrate body cells, change their genetic material and cause them to degenerate.
It is not known how many people are infected with the HP virus, but medical experts assume that most adults will become infected with the virus at some point in their lives.
In most cases, however, the immune system would prevail over the pathogens
, as the dkfz writes.
Even infection with cancer-promoting virus types can usually go away without treatment.
In some people, however, the infection smoulders in the body and leads - albeit in a few cases - to cancer.
HPV symptoms: how do I recognize a human papillomavirus infection?
In many cases, an HPV infection goes unnoticed - even if it comes to the chronic form, i.e. the viruses are not rendered harmless by the immune system, but remain in the body permanently.
If HP viruses cause symptoms, those affected often notice them in the form of skin and / or genital warts
. Skin warts mainly appear on the hands, feet or face and are usually harmless.
Benign genital warts - so-called genital warts or condylomas - are mostly caused by HPV 6 and HPV 11 viruses.
They are among the low-risk types.
These are rarely responsible for malignant cell changes.
The virus type, which is counted among the high-risk types, is different: These representatives of the human papilloma viruses increase the risk of developing cancer
.
Cervical cancer is the most common disease caused by these dangerous HP viruses in the world.
In the early stages, this type of cancer usually does not cause any symptoms, but the following symptoms, which can occur with benign growths and cervical cancer, should be clarified by your doctor:
vaginal, possibly foul smelling discharge
Bleeding after intercourse
Intermenstrual bleeding (between menstruation or after menopause)
Survey on the subject
Detect and treat HPV infection
An HPV test provides information about whether you have been infected with human papilloma viruses. A swab of the mucous membrane or a small tissue sample from the affected area of the body is sufficient. According to the current state of knowledge, an infection with HP viruses cannot be cured, there are no drugs that can eliminate the virus in the body. But there are therapeutic options for the diseases caused by HPV.
Genital warts are usually removed surgically, and doctors often recommend lasers or icing
. In many cases, creams or solutions are also used. In severe cases, tissue is removed over a large area in an operation or referred to an oncologist, a cancer specialist.
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Preventing HP Virus Infection: What To Look For
Most sexually active women and men become infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime, as the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) writes.
One could not only become infected during sexual intercourse, but also with any other intimate skin contact, because HP viruses can settle in the entire genital area
.
The risk of becoming infected through body fluids such as blood, semen or saliva, on the other hand, is low.
Condoms prevent infection, but cannot prevent it 100 percent. A better way to prevent infection is with HPV vaccination. This protects against the most dangerous types of HPV (such as the high-risk types 16 and 18) and thus lowers the risk of cervical cancer and cancers of the anus, penis, mouth and throat.
But because human papilloma viruses are primarily transmitted during sex, HPV vaccinations should be given to boys and girls before the first sexual intercourse
, as reported by the Federal Center for Health Education.
This information is not a substitute for a visit to the doctor. Only this person can make the correct individual diagnosis and initiate a suitable therapy. The following applies to women: Visit your gynecologist once a year, an early diagnosis of diseases improves the chances of recovery immensely. Men should have their urologist checked regularly.
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