How is the HPV virus transmitted?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Hien - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
HPV is a very common sexually transmitted disease. In particular, some types of HPV virus will cause genital warts or even cancer.

1. What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world today. There are different types of HPV, some of which can cause health problems, including genital warts and 6 types of cancer, for long-term infections.
Most people infected with HPV do not know they have it and do not experience any symptoms or health problems. Women can know they have HPV when they receive an abnormal cervical cancer screening test result.

2. How is HPV transmitted?

Many people ask the question "Is the HPV virus contagious?" or “How is the HPV virus transmitted?”. Around this issue, doctors said:
HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact. You can get HPV by having direct vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus.
Which way HPV is most commonly transmitted, the answer is vaginal or anal. HPV can be transmitted even if the person who transmits the infection does not have any signs or symptoms.
People who are sexually active are more likely to be infected with HPV when:
Have sex too soon; Scratches on the external genital area Have multiple sex partners; Have a sexual partner who has had sex with many people before. Anyone who has had sex can get HPV, even if you have sex with only one person. Sometimes you only develop symptoms years after you have sex with an infected person. This makes it difficult to determine the exact duration of a person's illness.
It should be noted that a person cannot be infected with the HPV virus through:
The toilet; Hug or hold hands; Poor hygiene; Eating or sharing utensils; Swim together in a pool or hot tub; Genetic factors.

3. Health problems caused by HPV

About 90% of HPV infections clear up on their own after 2 years and do not cause any health problems. But sometimes an HPV infection doesn't go away and can lead to genital warts or certain types of cancer. While both are HPV, the viruses that cause genital warts are not the same as those that can lead to cancer.
3.1. Genital Warts Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or large patch of swelling in the genital area. The appearance of the wart is often similar to the surface of a bunch of broccoli. Doctors will diagnose warts by looking at the outside of the genitals.
There is no primary treatment for the health problems that HPV causes, but genital warts can be controlled with certain medications prescribed by your doctor.
3.2. Cancer It is estimated that each year in the United States, HPV is responsible for nearly 35,000 cases of cancer in both men and women, including:
Cancer of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women; Penile cancer in men; Cancer of the anus and back of the throat, including the tongue and tonsils (pharynx), in both women and men. It usually takes years, after a person is infected with the HPV virus, for cancer to develop. Pre-cervical cancer can be treated if women have annual screenings and tests to catch problems before malignant cells develop. Other cancers associated with HPV are also easier to treat when diagnosed and intervened early. Therefore, prevention is always better than cure through regular health check-ups and cancer screening.

4. Prevention of HPV infection

4.1. Get the HPV vaccine The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to reduce your risk of getting the virus. The CDC recommends that all boys and girls get 2 doses of the HPV vaccine at ages 11-12, or it can be started as early as age 9. For the HPV vaccine to be most effective, it should be given before exposure to the virus. Therefore, the HPV vaccine is recommended in children to ensure long-term protection. Also, people under 26 can also get the vaccine if they haven't been vaccinated before.
If a child received their first dose of vaccine before age 15, only 2 doses are needed in total. For adolescents who start vaccination at or after the age of 15, 3 doses are required.
4.2. Safe sex Based on the mechanism by which the HPV virus is transmitted, you can actively find ways to limit the virus infection for yourself. For sexually active people, it is necessary to prevent the risk of contracting HPV-related diseases by:
Using condoms : Although the rate of HPV infection can be reduced, the virus is still contagious. infection through areas not covered by condoms. So this measure cannot give you maximum protection; Monogamy: Having sex with only one person. However, there are still cases where a sexual partner can get the infection from another person and pass it on to you. Need a health examination when there is a suspicion of HPV infection For women aged 21 - 65 years, cervical cancer screening should be done annually, for early detection and timely treatment. The HPV virus is spread through the mouth, vagina, and anus during sex, so having a new partner is a risk factor for contracting the new virus. While people in long-term monogamous relationships are less likely to contract the virus. You can prevent your risk of cancer by getting the HPV vaccine starting at age 11-12.

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Article referenced source: cdc.gov