About HPV
WHAT DOES HPV MEAN?
The acronym HPV corresponds to a group of viruses called human papillomavirus. HPV are sexually transmitted viruses that infect the skin or mucous membrane, causing warts or lesions that can be precursors to cancer.
WHAT IS HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS?
Human papillomavirus is a common virus. Among the different types of human papillomavirus, some are harmless, and others can cause disease in the genital areas. Most people can stay free of the virus, however, people affected can develop cervical cancer, precancerous lesions or genital warts.
HOW DO YOU GET HPV?
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected skin or mucosa, during any sexual contact (genital-to-genital, mouth-to-genital and hand-to-genital), even in the absence of vaginal or anal penetration.
DO HPV INFECTIONS HAVE A CURE?
There are no medications that cure or eliminate the virus, but there are treatments for the lesions caused by it. Prevention must be done through vaccination and the use of condoms. In most cases, the virus is eliminated spontaneously by the immune system itself, and the infected person may not show any signs or symptoms. In some people, the virus may remain inactive and only manifest itself when the immune system is weakened
WHAT ARE CERVICAL CANCER, PRECANCEROUS LESIONS AND GENITAL WARTS?
Cervical cancer is a serious disease and can sometimes be life-threatening. It begins when a woman contracts some types of human papillomavirus, which can cause the normal cells in the lining of the cervix to become abnormal or precancerous lesions. These lesions are usually detected on a Pap smear. If these lesions are not treated, they can become cancerous. You will not get cervical cancer without first having a human papillomavirus infection.
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and causes 288,000 deaths each year. More than 490,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year. Genital warts are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus. They often appear as irregular skin-colored warts and are found on or outside the genitals of men and women. They can hurt, itch, bleed and cause discomfort. Sometimes they can return after treatment
HOW CAN I PREVENT HPV?
1) Education: Education is essential to understand and protect children and adolescents from certain types of cancer and other diseases related to HPV, which may appear later in their lives.
2) Vaccination: The aim of vaccination is to induce immunity without the body having to come into contact with those causing the disease. Those who have not been vaccinated are unnecessarily exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases.
3) Condoms: HPV affects men and women, and the most common way of transmission is through sexual contact. Therefore, it is very important to use male or female condoms in all sexual contact (genital-to-genital, mouth-to-genital and hand-to-genital), even if vaginal or anal penetration does not occur. Condoms do not fully protect against HPV infection, as the virus can be present in areas of skin and mucous membranes that are not protected during sexual contact.