Many types of HPV cause warts on the genital area (vulva, anus, cervix and penis). Some HPV causes cell changes that may grow into cancer over time. These are called “high-risk” types.
Most people who get genital HPV clear the infection on their own without any health problems. But persistent infections with some high-risk types can cause cervical cancer over 15 years.
Genital Warts
Some types of HPV cause warts (papillomas) on or around the genital area of both men and women. The warts look like small growths and are usually pink or flesh-colored. They can be flat or raised and may resemble cauliflower. Most genital warts don’t lead to cancer, but they can be painful and embarrassing. The virus that causes genital warts can be spread during sexual contact, but condoms don’t protect against them completely. Some types of HPV increase the risk for cancer and are called “high-risk” HPV.
A Pap test — a sample of cells taken from the cervix and sent to a lab for testing — can show whether you have high-risk HPV. It also helps doctors find abnormal cells that might develop into cervical cancer over time. Having a Pap test is especially important for sexually active females, ages 21 to 29, and those with a weakened immune system.
Usually, your body’s immune system can defeat the HPV infection that causes genital warts. But in some cases, the virus can keep growing and cause cells to grow out of control, which increases the risk of cancer.
Most genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV, but some are caused by high-risk HPV. High-risk HPV can stay dormant for months or even years before causing a genital wart or abnormal cells in the cervix. It’s impossible to know which partners have passed the virus on to you or how long it has been in your body.
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If your doctor suspects that you have a wart or abnormal cell that might develop into cancer, they can use several tests to check for the virus. They can look for the presence of the virus in the cervix, and they can use a vinegar solution that irritates and makes the warts turn white. They can also use a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cold knife conization to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from your cervix and send it to a lab for testing.
If you are a woman and haven’t had children, you can get a vaccine series that can prevent high-risk HPV from leading to genital warts and precancerous changes in the cervix. The vaccine is recommended for girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 12.
Cervical Cancer
HPV causes genital warts and precancerous cells in the cervix. It is also the main cause of cervical cancer, which develops when healthy cells in the cervix turn malignant (cancerous) and begin to grow out of control. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by specific types of HPV, which are most likely spread during sexual activity, especially when using condoms that do not fully cover the vulva. HPV infection usually happens during early adolescence and can last a lifetime, but most people’s bodies naturally clear the virus at some point.
The cervix is a cylinder-shaped, outer part of the uterus that can be seen during a gynecologic exam. It is made up of two areas—the ectocervix, which is covered with thin, flat cells, and the endocervix, which is lined with glandular cells. The squamous cells of the ectocervix meet the endocervix at a spot called the transformation zone, where HPV causes cancer. Once in the cervix, HPV inserts its own genetic code into the cell’s DNA. This change can make normal cervical tissue cancerous and cause abnormal Pap smears.
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Most cervical cancers start in the transformation zone and grow slowly. Over time, the cancer can spread from the cervix to the walls of the pelvis and the lower part of the vagina. It may also grow to the lymph nodes nearby. Cancers that spread to these areas are often more difficult to treat than cervical cancer that starts in the cervix itself.
There are many possible risk factors for cervical cancer, including having multiple sexual partners and beginning sexual activity at a young age. Women who smoke are more likely to have cervical cancer than those who do not. The long-term use of some birth control pills increases a woman’s risk, as does a history of genital warts or abnormal Pap smears. The most important way to reduce the risk of cervical cancer is to get regular Pap tests. This will help doctors find abnormalities and cancers in their earliest stages, when they are easier to treat. The Pap test and HPV vaccine can also help prevent cervical cancer.
Penile Cancer
When HPV infection causes genital warts, the virus also may cause changes that can lead to penile cancer. Penile cancer is most often caused by HPV type 16, but HPV type 18 is sometimes linked to penile cancer as well. It’s not clear whether these types of HPV increase or decrease the risk of penile cancer or how it develops. In most cases, the cancer isn’t related to sex and can’t be transmitted from one man to another. However, some studies show that men who have genital warts or cervical cancer have more than twice the chance of having penile cancer.
If you have signs or symptoms of penile cancer, talk to your doctor right away. They can check for cancer and other health problems. They can also help you make decisions about treatment.
In men, HPV causes most penile cancers. Usually, the cancer starts in cells that line the urethra. These cells can grow and multiply too quickly, crowding out healthy cells. This can cause the tissue to become cancerous (malignant) and can spread from the penis to other parts of the body.
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The types of cancers that can be caused by HPV in the penis include basaloid and warty penile squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma. These cancers aren’t the same as cancers that can’t be caused by HPV, such as anal cancer and atypical prostate cancer.
Some factors increase your chances of getting penile cancer, including not using condoms during sex and having multiple sexual partners. In addition, you are more likely to get penile cancer if you have HIV(human immunodeficiency virus) and aren’t being treated with drugs to control the virus.
To diagnose penile cancer, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your health history. They will take a sample of tissue from the area and look at it under a microscope. They may also do other tests, such as blood tests to measure certain chemicals in your body or an ultrasound.
Several studies have looked for the presence of HPV DNA in invasive penile squamous cell carcinomas. In general, the lower the grade of the tumor, the less evidence there is of HPV. This is probably due to differences in study design and the use of different PCR primers and samples.
Anus Cancer
HPV infection can lead to cancer of the anus, throat, cervix or penis. Cancer caused by HPV may be more serious if you have HIV or are taking medication that weakens your immune system.
There are many types of HPV. Some are harmless and go away on their own. Others cause genital warts and other growths. There are also several types that increase your risk of getting certain kinds of cancer.
Some strains of HPV (mainly types 16 and 18) cause changes in the cells that line the cervix. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical dysplasia. If left untreated, cervical dysplasia can progress to cervical cancer. HPV infections can be found by the same Pap test that finds pre-cancers and cancer of the cervix.
Most HPV infections clear up on their own or with treatment. Some, however, persist for a long time. If they are high-risk, this can increase your chance of developing anal or oral cancer.
HPV is a common virus that can cause warts, genital cancer, anal cancer and other health problems. The best way to prevent these diseases is to use condoms during sex, and to get vaccinated against HPV at the right time.
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Vaccines against HPV are very effective at preventing most of the diseases associated with the virus, including cancers of the vulva, anus and rectum. Vaccination is recommended for all sexually active men and women, especially those who are HIV positive or who take medications that weaken their immune systems.
HPV can affect all ages and genders. The viruses that can cause cervical cancer are usually found in women by screening tests called Pap smears and are most often caught by routine physical exams. Detecting HPV in your cervix before it causes cancer can help find the disease when it is small and easier to treat. There are no reliable screening tests for HPV-caused cancers in other areas of the body, but some of the diseases can be prevented by regular screening and early treatment. This is why it is important to talk to your doctor about your sexual history and when you should be screened.
