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OVERVIEW

What is human papillomavirus?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Canada.

There are over 200 types of HPV. Some types don’t cause any symptoms. Other types cause genital warts.  More aggressive forms of HPV can cause cancer in both men and women.  This includes cancer of the cervix. anus, vulva, vagina, penis, and throat.

HPV is passed between people through genital or skin-to-skin contact. Both men and women can get HPV and pass it on. Often, they don’t know they have it, so they don’t realize they are passing it to other people. Nearly all people who have had sex will get HPV at some point in their lives.

Symptoms of HPV

In most cases, HPV—including the kinds that cause cancer—does not have symptoms. The main symptom people see with some types of HPV infection is genital warts. Genital warts can be small or large, flat, or raised. Sometimes they are described as looking like cauliflower. There can be just one, or they can appear in groups. They can appear on the anus, cervix, scrotum, penis, groin, or thigh.

Another type of HPV can cause warts to develop on other parts of your body, such as your hands and feet. The types of HPV that cause warts generally do not cause cancer.

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

What causes HPV?

Infection from HPV happens when the virus gets into your body. This most often happens during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a person who is already infected. HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not through bodily fluids.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

How is HPV diagnosed?

If you think you have warts in your genital area, contact your healthcare provider. They will be able to diagnose it with an examination.

For women, diagnosis of HPV often starts with abnormal results from a routine Pap test. When you have a Pap test (or “smear”), your healthcare provider will take a sample of cells from your cervix. The sample is sent to a lab and looked at under a microscope.

If you have a type of HPV that can cause cancer, your healthcare provider may want to perform a colposcopy. In this test, they will use a special magnifying lens to get a closer look at your cervix. If the tissue looks abnormal, they will cut out a small bit to perform a biopsy. This test will check for signs of cancer.

PREVENTION

Can HPV be prevented or avoided??

Because HPV is such a common virus, it is hard to avoid it completely. But there are steps you can take to lower your risk.

• Have few sex partners.
• Avoid sex with people who have had many sex partners.
• Use condoms consistently and correctly, though they may not cover all areas of skin where the virus lives.
• Get vaccinated.

HPV often shows no symptoms. Sometimes symptoms show up weeks or months after you’ve been infected. This makes it harder for you to not spread the infection. It is less common for men to develop complications from HPV. But they can spread the virus to women, where cancer from the virus is more common. Therefore, it is important to do your best to avoid HPV.

HPV vaccine

Health Canada has authorized three immunizations to prevent infections from the most common types of HPV:  Gardasil, Gardasil 9 (for males and females), and Cervarix (for females only).  All three immunizations help protect against the HPV strains that are most likely to cause cervical cancer. Gardasil and Gardasil 9 also help protect against the HPV strains that are most likely to cause genital warts.

Routine HPV immunization is recommended for the following groups of people:

• Girls and women ages 9-26
• Boys and men ages 9-26

These immunizations may be administered to individuals 27 years of age and older at ongoing risk of exposure to HPV.  Discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

The immunizations are given as shots (injections in the upper arm) and require 3 doses.  These immunizations may also be given according to a two dose schedule among healthy children as part of the school immunization schedule.  The immunization is most effective if children receive it before they start having sex.

Studies are currently being done to test to see if the vaccine works for men and for women older than 26 years of age.

TREATMENT

HPV Treatment

There is no cure or treatment for the virus itself. In many people, HPV goes away on its own without causing any health problems. There are treatments for the conditions the virus causes. These include genital warts, precancerous cells, and cancer.

Genital warts must be treated by your healthcare provider. Do not try to treat the warts yourself, especially with chemicals you can buy over the counter to remove warts that you would find on your hands. These chemicals are not supposed to be used for genital warts, as they can irritate the skin.

If precancerous cells are found, your healthcare provider may want to monitor the area to make sure it doesn’t grow. Your healthcare provider may recommend to remove the abnormal tissue so it doesn’t turn into cancer. If cancer is found, treatment will vary. It will depend on the type of cancer, the stage, and the patient’s age.

Living with HPV

You may test positive for HPV without having signs of cancer or genital warts. Your healthcare provider will likely want you to get a repeat Pap test to monitor things until the infection is gone. This could take up to 2 years.

Most people who get their routine Pap tests and follow their healthcare provider’s advice have a less chance cervical cancer. It takes a long time to develop, and regular check-ups help find issues early before they get more serious.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Government of Canada website

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/human-papillomavirus-hpv.html