What is a cure for human papilloma virus? What can be done to protect yourself from HPV?

  • Q: What is a cure for human papilloma virus? What can a 42 year old do to protect themselves from HPV?
  • A: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infects humans on the skin and mucous membranes. HPV causes common warts (small, white, beige or brown skin growths) which can appear nearly anyplace on the body and on the moist mucous membranes near the mouth, anus and genitals. According to the CDC, genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. In fact, there are more than 40 different types of HPV that can infect the genitalia of both men and women. Those same HPV types are also capable of infect the mouth and throat. Untreated HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women. It has been estimated that in the United States alone, 1.4 million have genital warts at any given time, and each year there are about six million new genital HPV cases every year. Statistics have shown that approximately 4 out of 5 women will have become infected with genital HPV by the time they reach 50 years of age. Most of the people infected with genital HPV do not even know they have it. HPV should not be confused with herpes, nor with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). While these three viruses are all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), infections that can be passed on during sex, they each cause very different symptoms, health problems, and consequences. HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact (usually from penetrative vaginal or anal intercourse, but digital or oral involvement is also possible). Warts will generally first appear after an incubation period that ranges from one to six months. They are easily diagnosed upon examination by a physician. Treatment is usually either by physical removal or by the use of topical preparations. Physical, or manual, removal is most often done by using cryosurgery (the use of extremely cold liquid nitrogen to kill the tissue), electrocauterization (the heating of tissue with electricity), laser removal, or surgical excision (removal by cutting). Topical treatments are most often either with antimitotics (podophyllotoxin or 5-fluorouracil), caustics (trichloroacetic acid), or interferon inducers (imiquimod). While these topical preparations are widely used, it is important to note that multiple applications over a period of weeks to months are usually required. Also, even after multiple applications, topical treatments are frequently not effective. Regarding prevention, condoms probably do not offer complete protection against infection, due to the location of the warts. Since 2006, there has been a vaccine available for the prevention of HPV. Gardasil is known as "quadrivalent" because it is said to protect against four types (or strains) of HPV (the two that cause 90% of all genital warts, and the two that cause most cervical cancers). Gardasil has been recommended for use in females between the ages of 9 and 26. You may also get more information by using the Everyday Health Women's Health Group. Gregory Latham, RPh
This question was answered on October 15, 2010.


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