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Treatments & Detection of Human Papilloma Virus

There are approximately 20 million cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the United States as of 2009. Because HPV can cause genital warts and cancer in some instances, people should try to prevent the spread of HPV through proper detection and treatment.

  1. What Is HPV?

    • HPV is a disease that lives in the mucus membranes of the body and is transmitted through skin to skin contact; it most commonly is transmitted sexually. As of 2009, there is not a cure for HPV. There are at least 100 different types of HPV, but according to SexualityandU.ca, this may represent only half of the HPV strains that actually exist. Although most people with HPV remain asymptomatic, HPV is still a concern in the medical community because of its link to genital warts and cancer.

    Self Exam

    • Check your body for signs of the virus. The most visible sign of an HPV infection is an outbreak of warts. The size, shape, height, number and even color of the warts can vary depending on the strain of HPV and your personal reaction to the virus. You can have warts on your hands and feet (these generally are benign), or they can be on the genitals. If you're female, then you can make the self exam easier by using a mirror to see more of the labia and vagina. Always wash your hands before and after a physical self exam.

      Some types of HPV do not present with warts. Instead, they present with lesions, especially in the tissues of the lips, tongue, inner mouth, and throat. If you find that you are getting outbreaks of mouth sores (you may notice this from a sensitivity to salty or acidic foods), you may have HPV. You can look in a mirror to confirm that a lesion is present.

    Procedures

    • Detect the virus with a swab test or colposcopy. With the swab test, a medical cotton swab is used to gently gather some cells from cervix. The swab is then sent to a lab, where the cells are analyzed for the HPV virus. This test can be done at the same time as a Pap smear. A colposcopy is even more simple---it is basically looking at the genitals under a magnifier and visually inspecting for signs of the virus.

    Creams

    • Try using Podofilox or Conolylox. Podofilox treats HPV by destroying wart tissue, while Conolylox gives the immune system a boost so that it can fight the virus off. You can apply these at home, which means fewer visits to the doctor.

    Wart Removal

    • Try to remove the warts through medical procedures. You can freeze the warts with nitrogen, remove abnormal cells through conization (biopsy), vaporize or excise the warts with a laser, excise the warts with an electrical current (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure, or LOOP), or have the warts cut out with a scalpel.

    Diet and Rest

    • Make sure that you eat right, stay hydrated and get enough sleep. These things will strengthen your immune system and keep it healthy so that the HPV can clear up.

    Miscellaneous Detection Tips and Facts

    • Most types of HPV do not result in any symptoms. This means that there is no way to detect the virus on your own, and that it can be hard for a doctor to detect it unless they have some reason to test you for a specific strain of HPV. In some cases, a person may not see any warts, but they can have itchiness or redness of the skin in the affected area. If you find yourself with a rash or just can't stop scratching, you may want to see your doctor and talk about possible HPV infection.

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