NEPTUNE – Many viruses cause a host of symptoms and conditions, including colds and the flu. Most people are able to overcome viral infections in a couple days to a couple weeks but there are other viruses like human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common sexually transmitted disease, that can cause long-term health problems including cancer.
“HPV is probably the most common sexually transmitted disease which a lot of people don’t know about,” Dr. Tracy Proverbs-Singh said.
Singh, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center. “It can remain latent in the body for a lifetime.” Most sexually active people have been exposed to HPV and many times it’s harmless and goes away on its own.
The cancer most commonly associated with HPV is cervical cancer, but it can also lead to vulvar and vaginal, anal, penile and oral cancers. “Ninety percent of cervix cancers are found to have HPV in their DNA,” said Dr. Karim ElSahwi, attending gynecologic oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Gynecologists use a Pap test to screen for the presence of HPV in the cervix. They may find cervical cancer early, when it’s most easily treated, or even when it’s at a pre-cancerous stage. About 90 percent of anal cancer is also caused by HPV.
You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV and develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who is infected. Using condoms every time during sexual intercourse can help reduce the risk. However, condoms are not as effective against HPV as they are against other STDs like chlamydia and HIV.
HPV vaccination can provide protection against the most common types of HPV which cause cancer and genital warts. The vaccine is less effective once sexually active, because people probably have come in contact with HPV already. For this reason, the vaccine is recommended for children age 11-12, giving them protection before being exposed to the viruses. “Getting the vaccine and preventing the infection decreases the risk of cancer dramatically, because over 90 percent of the strains that could cause cancer are represented,” Dr. Proverbs-Singh said.
Normally, people will not experience any symptoms of HPV infection until it has already caused a health problem. Consequently, it is important for people to have regular checkups with their physician to find abnormal changes in their health before it turns into something more serious.
