Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

human papillomavirus (HPV) 337
TOPICAL MEDICATIONS TO TREAT HPV GENITAL WARTS
bichloracetic acid (BCA)
imiquimod cream
podophyllin solution
5-fluorouracil cream
podofilox solution
trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
Most HPV strains that cause genital infection do
not produce symptoms. Many of these asymptomatic
infections are benign (harmless) and go away
in two or three years. Other genital HPV infections
cause molecular changes in the cells of tissues. The
tissues most commonly affected are the walls of the
vagina and the cervix. These changes, called DYS-
PLASIA, are detectable only through microscopic
examination of cells such as the doctor collects for a
routine PAP TEST. Though often dysplasia resolves
over time without treatment, it may progress to
cancer. Doctors generally treat dysplasia to remove
the risk for such progression.
Genital HPV Infection and Cancer
In recent years researchers have discovered that
nearly all primary cervical cancer tumors contain
one or more of 13 strains of HPV. Further, primary
cervical cancer rarely occurs in women who have
never had HPV infection. Cancer experts now
believe HPV infection is the cause of primary cervical
cancer. HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 39, 45, 51,
52, 56, 58, 59, 68, and 69 are the causative
strains; HPV-16 and HPV-18 together account for
about 85 percent of cervical cancers. Though these
strains of HPV cause cervical cancer, only a small
percentage of women infected with them develop
cervical cancer. Routine Pap tests are a woman’s
best defense against HPV infection leading to cervical
cancer because the changes in cells takes
place slowly over years. Detecting and treating
cervical or vaginal dysplasia eliminates the risk for
the cells to continue a transition to cancer.
Preventing HPV Infection
Because human papillomaviruses are so prevalent,
avoiding infection is difficult. Minimizing touch
with common warts and treating them while they
are small reduces the risk for spreading them to
other parts of the body. Wearing shower sandals in
locker rooms and public showers reduces the risk
for contracting HPV-1 infection, which causes
plantar warts.
Because of the risk for infection with one of the
HPV strains linked with cancer, prevention measures
are particularly important for genital HPV
infection. Using latex condoms during all sexual
activity greatly reduces the likelihood of contact
with genital warts as well as with infected tissues
that do not show symptoms. Annual Pap tests are
essential for sexually active women. Men and
women who have multiple sex partners have
increased risk for genital HPV infection.
In 2006 the US Food and Drug Adminstration
(FDA) approved the first vaccine to prevent infection
with HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in women.
Administered as three injectons over 6 months,
the vaccine appears to be highly effective with
minimal side effects. However, the vaccine does
not benefit women who already have HPV infection.
Health experts recommend women through
age 26 receive the HPV vaccine and girls receive
HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12.
See also CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA (CIN);
CHLAMYDIA; GENITAL HERPES; GONORRHEA; HIV/AIDS;
SEXUAL HEALTH; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD)
PREVENTION; SYPHILIS.