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Almost all sexually active people will be infected with Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV at some point in their lives鈥攂ut most will never know they have it. Despite being the most common sexually transmitted infection, many people don鈥檛 realize HPV can lead to certain cancers.

HPV is a virus that affects the skin and the lining of some cavities of the body. There are different strains (or types) of HPV, some of which cause skin conditions such as warts. Other strains can cause precancerous or cancer changes on the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, and throat.

UR Medicine gynecologist Ellen Tourtelot, MD, otolaryngologist Farshad Chowdhury, MD, and Zhaomin Xu, MD, MPH of the Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery share key preventative measures and insights into HPV-related cancers.

Can both men and women get HPV?

Yes. Men carry HPV in semen, but unless they are infected with one of the strains that causes warts, they don鈥檛 show symptoms.

Can you get HPV without having sex?

Yes. The virus is spread through close skin-to-skin contact.

How can HPV affect your body?

Most people who have HPV do not have any symptoms. Some common symptoms include:

• Warts on the penis, vulva, vagina, or around the anus
• Precancerous lesions (dysplasia) on the vulva
• Hoarseness and painful swallowing

Some strands of HPV have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cancers, including:

• Cervical Cancer: This is the most common cancer caused by HPV, which develops when the virus infects and alters the cells on the cervix.
• Throat Cancer: Most people who get an HPV infection of the throat will recover, but a small percentage of infections with the virus develop into cancer.
• Vaginal Cancer: Vaginal cancers that stem from HPV are rare but do occur.
• Vulvar Cancer: Vulvar cancers caused by HPV may show up as lesions.
• Anal Cancer: Most anal cancers (>90%) are associated with certain types of high-risk HPV.

How is HPV diagnosed?

Depending on the type, HPV can be diagnosed during a healthcare exam, via cervical or anal pap smear screening, HPV testing by swab, or by colposcopy or anoscopy. Catching it early can lead to more effective treatment, which is why keeping up with your annual appointments is so important.

Are there any treatments for HPV?

Treatment for HPV-associated pre-cancerous conditions and cancers can include:

• Additional testing on abnormal cells
• More frequent screening and closer surveillance
• Surgery
• Radiation

Does HPV go away on its own?

If you have a normal immune system, it鈥檚 likely that you will clear the HPV infection within a year or two.

鈥淭his is an area of active investigation, and a complete picture of this is still emerging,鈥� Chowdhury explains. 鈥淲hat remains to be determined is why some people don鈥檛 clear the infection, and why a fraction of those people that don鈥檛 clear the infection then go on to develop an HPV-associated cancer.鈥�

How can I prevent HPV?

Get the HPV vaccine, Gardasil.

The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 shots over a six-month period and can be given to both men and women starting at age 9 and up to age 45. Gardasil doesn鈥檛 eliminate the chance of getting HPV, but it covers 9 of the high-risk HPV strains. If you already have an HPV infection and have not had the vaccine, there is some evidence to suggest that getting the vaccine after treatment will help to reduce the risk of recurrence.

All men and women should get vaccinated. Tourtelot says, 鈥淔rom a public health standpoint, is one of two vaccines that can prevent cancer.鈥� (Hepatitis B vaccine helps to prevent liver cancer caused by infection with the Hepatitis B virus.)

Use condoms.

HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, which can be prevented by having safe sex. Know the sexual history of your partner and use a condom.

Schedule annual appointments.

Screenings at annual exams are especially important as they may catch dysplasia, or pre-cancerous, abnormal cells. Providers screen for HPV through physical exams, pap smears, and HPV testing.