HPV and Cancer | Human Papillomavirus and Cancer

What is HPV?

HPV is short for human papillomavirus. HPVs are a large group of related viruses. Each virus in the group is given a number, which is called an HPV type.

Most HPV types cause warts on the skin, such as on the arms, chest, hands, or feet. Other types are found mainly on the body’s mucous membranes. Mucous membranes are the moist surface layers that line organs and parts of the body that open to the outside, such as the vagina, anus, mouth, and throat. The HPV types found on mucous membranes are sometimes called genital HPV. They generally do not live on the skin.

Genital HPV is not the same as HIV or herpes. HPV is divided into 2 main groups:

Low-risk HPV types

Some types of HPV can cause warts (papillomas) on or around the genitals and anus of both men and women. Women may also have warts on the cervix and in the vagina. Because these HPV types rarely cause cancer, they are called “low-risk” viruses.

High-risk HPV types

Other types of HPV are called “high-risk” because they can cause cancer. Doctors worry more about the cell changes and pre-cancers linked to these types, because they’re more likely to grow into cancers over time. Common high-risk HPV types include HPV 16 and 18.

Infection with HPV is very common. In most people, the body is able to clear the infection on its own. But sometimes, the infection doesn’t go away. Chronic, or long-lasting infection, especially when it’s caused by certain high-risk HPV types, can cause cancer over time.

How do people get HPV?

HPV can be passed from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact, such as occurs with sexual activity. The main way HPV is spread is through sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. HPV can be spread even when an infected person has no visible signs or symptoms.

The virus can also be spread by genital contact without sex, although this is not common.

HPV infection is very common. Most men and women who have ever had sex get at least one type of genital HPV at some time in their lives. Anyone who has had sex can get HPV, even if it was only with only one person, but infections are more likely in people who have had many sex partners.  Even if a person delays sexual activity until marriage, or only has one partner, they are still at risk of HPV infection if their partner has been exposed.

You cannot get HPV from:

• Toilet seats
• Hugging or holding hands
• Swimming pools or hot tubs
• Sharing food or utensils
• Being unclean

You can have HPV:

• Even if it has been years since you were sexually active
• Even if you do not have any signs or symptoms

To learn more about any of the cancers listed here, visit our website at www. cancer.org or call our toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer linked to HPV in people with a cervix. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

Cervical cancer can be found early and even prevented with routine screening tests. The Pap test looks for changes in cervical cells caused by HPV infection. The HPV test looks for the infection itself.

Cervical cancer is preventable with vaccines and regular screening tests. More than half of the people in the United States who get cervical cancer have never had or rarely had screening tests.

Vulvar cancer

HPV can also cause cancer of the vulva, which is the outer part of the female genital organs. This cancer is much less common than cervical cancer.

There’s no standard screening test for this cancer other than routine physical exams.

Vaginal cancer

Most vaginal cancers contain HPV.

Many vaginal pre-cancers also contain HPV, and these changes may be present for years before turning into cancer. These pre-cancers can sometimes be found with the same Pap test that’s used to test for cervical cancer and pre-cancer. If a pre-cancer is found, it can be treated, stopping cancer before it really starts.

Penile cancer

In men, HPV can cause cancer of the penis. It’s more common in men with HIV and those who have sex with other men.

There’s no standard screening test to find early signs of penile cancer. Because almost all penile cancers start under the foreskin of the penis, they may be noticed early in the course of the disease.

Anal cancer

HPV can cause cancer of the anus in both men and women. It’s more common in people with HIV and in men who have sex with other men.

Screening tests for anal cancer are not routinely recommended for all people. Still, some experts recommend anal cytology testing (also called an anal Pap test because it’s much like the Pap test used for cervical cancer) for people at higher risk of anal cancer. This includes men who have sex with men, individuals who have had cervical cancer or vulvar cancer, anyone who is HIV-positive, and anyone who has had an organ transplant.

Mouth and throat cancer

HPV is found in some mouth and throat cancers. Most cancers found in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils, are HPV-related. These are the most common HPV-related cancers in men.

There’s no standard screening test to find these cancers early. Still, many can be found early during routine exams by a dentist, doctor, dental hygienist, or by self-exam.

Can HPV infection be prevented?

There’s no sure way to prevent infection with all the different types of HPV. But there are things you can do to lower your chances of being infected. There are also vaccines that can be used to protect young people from the HPV types most closely linked to cancer and genital warts.

HPV is passed from one person to another during contact with an infected part of the body. Although HPV can be spread during sexual contact – including vaginal, anal, and oral sex – sex isn’t the only way for the infection to spread. All that’s needed is skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. There may be other ways to become infected with HPV that aren’t yet clear.

HPV can be present for years without causing any symptoms. It doesn’t always cause warts or any other symptoms. Someone can have the virus and pass it on without knowing it.

Condom use

Condoms (“rubbers”) provide some protection against HPV, but they do not completely prevent infection.

Condoms must be used correctly every time sex occurs. Even then, condoms can’t protect completely because they don’t cover every possible HPV-infected area of the body, such as the skin on the genital or anal area. Still, condoms do provide some protection against HPV, and they also help protect against some other sexually transmitted infections.

A new condom should be used with each sex act. The condom should be put on BEFORE any genital, oral, or anal contact and kept on until sex is finished.

Limiting sex partners

If you are sexually active, limiting the number of sex partners and avoiding sex with people who have had many other sex partners can help lower your risk of exposure to genital HPV. But again, HPV is very common, so having sex with even one other person can put you at risk.

HPV vaccines

HPV vaccines can prevent infection with certain types of HPV, including types that are linked to HPV-related cancers, as well as types linked to anal and genital warts.

Vaccines are approved for use in males and females. They can only be used to prevent HPV infection – they don’t help treat an existing infection.

• To work best, the HPV vaccines should be given between the ages of 9 and12.
• Teens and young adults ages 13 through 26 years who have not been vaccinated or who have not received all of their shots should get the vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccination of young adults will not prevent as many cancers as vaccination of children and teens.
• The ACS does not recommend HPV vaccination for persons older than 26 years.

Contact your American Cancer Society for more on the HPV vaccines.

Testing for HPV

The HPV tests on the market are only approved to find HPV infection in individuals with a cervix. They can be used alone or as part of a co-test (when an HPV test and a Pap test are done at the same time) to determine your risk of developing cervical cancer. 

• There’s no approved HPV test to find HPV on the penis or vulva, or in the anus, mouth, or throat.
• There’s no test for men or women to check one’s overall “HPV status.”
• For cervical cancer screening, the American Cancer Society recommends that people ages 25 to 65 get a primary HPV test* every 5 years. Because a primary HPV test may not be an option everywhere, a co-test every 5 years or a Pap test every 3 years are still good options.  

(*A primary HPV test is an HPV test that is done by itself for screening. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved certain tests to be primary HPV tests.)

There’s no treatment for the virus itself, but there are treatments for the cell changes that HPV can cause.

Cancer is easiest to treat when it’s found early – while it’s small and before it has spread. Some cancer screening tests can find early cell changes caused by HPV, and these changes can be treated before they even become cancer.

Visible genital warts can be removed with prescribed medicines. They can also be treated by a health care provider.

Things to remember about HPV

• HPV is a very common virus. Most men and women who have ever had sexual contact will get HPV at some time in their lives.
• There is no treatment for HPV, but in most cases it goes away without treatment.
• Having HPV does not mean you will get cancer. Most of the time HPV goes away by itself.
• Certain people are at higher risk for HPV-related health problems. This includes gay and bisexual men and people with weak immune systems (including those who have HIV/AIDS).
• Most HPV infections that lead to cancer can be prevented with vaccines.
• Most cervical cancers can be prevented by regular screening.

What to Know About Diagnosis, Outlook, and Prevention

Overview

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), also referred to as sexually transmitted disease (STD).

HPV is the most common STI in the United States. Almost 80 million Americans currently have HPV. About 14 million contract the virus each year.

More than 100 types of HPV exist. Because some are likely to cause more complications than others, the types are categorized as low-risk and high-risk HPV.

Low-risk types can’t cause cervical cancer and are treatable. High-risk types can cause abnormal cells to form on the cervix, which can develop into cancer if they’re left untreated.

Keep reading to learn more about the most common types of HPV.

If you’ve contracted HPV, identifying the type you have helps your doctor determine next steps. Some types of HPV clear up without intervention. Other types may lead to cancer. Your doctor will monitor your condition so that if cancer cells do develop, they can be detected early.

HPV 6 and HPV 11

HPV 6 and HPV 11 are low-risk types of HPV. They are linked to approximately 90 percent of genital warts. HPV 11 can also cause changes to the cervix.

Genital warts look like cauliflower-shaped bumps on your genitalia. They usually show up a few weeks or months after exposure from a sexual partner who has HPV.

Getting the HPV vaccine may help prevent HPV 6. The vaccine also offers some protection from HPV 11.

For the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9, clinical trials showed up to 89 to 99 percent effectiveness in protecting against HPV types 6 and 11. This significant reduction against contracting these types was noted in 9- to 26-year-olds.

The recommendation is to receive the vaccines prior to becoming sexually active, since the vaccine can’t protect against a strain of HPV that a person has already been exposed to.

If you do contract HPV 6 or HPV 11, your doctor can prescribe medications such as imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) or podofilox (Condylox). These are topical medications that destroy genital wart tissue.

This local destruction of the wart tissue helps enhance your immune system’s ability to fight the STI virus. You can apply these medications directly to your genital warts.

HPV 16 and HPV 18

HPV 16 is the most common high-risk type of HPV and usually doesn’t result in any noticeable symptoms, even though it can bring about cervical changes. It causes 50 percent of cervical cancers worldwide.

HPV 18 is another high-risk type of HPV. Like HPV 16, it doesn’t typically cause symptoms, but it can lead to cervical cancer.

HPV 16 and HPV 18 are together responsible for approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancers worldwide.

The HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 can protect against a number of types of HPV, including HPV 16 and HPV 18.

HPV testing can be performed for women with a Pap test (commonly known as a Pap smear), which is a screening test for cervical cancer. HPV testing is only available for women, and it can determine if HPV is present. If present, the test can determine whether the HPV is a low- or a high-risk type.

The HPV test isn’t recommended as routine screening for women under the age of 30. This is because many women will have some strain of HPV by that age. Most of these will clear spontaneously without intervention.

However, if a person’s Pap test showed abnormal cells, the HPV test would be done to assess their risk of more serious conditions, including cervical cancer.

If your test shows you have HPV, it doesn’t mean you’ll develop cervical cancer. It does mean that you could develop cervical cancer in the future, especially if you have a high-risk type of HPV. Your doctor will review your results with you and discuss treatment or surveillance options.

As mentioned above, 80 million Americans have HPV right now, and 14 million new diagnoses are expected each year. This means almost anyone who is sexually active will get at least one type of HPV during their lifetime.

It’s estimated that HPV will go away without treatment in 80 to 90 percent of people who contract the STI.

HPV infection is less common in women over the age of 30, but it’s more likely to lead to cervical cancer. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to see your gynecologist regularly.

Follow these tips to help prevent HPV:

Get the HPV vaccination

The HPV vaccine involves two shots, separated by 6 to 12 months, for those ages 9 to 14 years.

For people ages 15 and over, three shots are given over six months.

People between the ages of 27 and 45 who haven’t been previously vaccinated for HPV are now eligible for Gardasil 9.

Ask your doctor which vaccine they’re giving you

The types of HPV the different vaccines protect against vary:

• The HPV bivalent vaccine (Cervarix) will only protect against HPV 16 and 18.
• The HPV quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil) will protect against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.
• The HPV 9-valent vaccine, recombinant (Gardasil 9) can prevent HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.

Since Gardasil 9 protects against a much wider spectrum of HPV strains without a noted increase in side effects or adverse reactions, this choice offers more protection against HPV.

Common side effects of the Gardasil 9 vaccine is irritation at the injection site, including pain, swelling, or redness. Some people may have a headache following the injection.

Other tips

Avoid sexual contact with a partner if genital warts are present.

Use latex condoms every time you engage in sexual intercourse. But keep in mind that HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact — not through exchange of bodily fluids. This means that while condoms may not always prevent the spread of HPV, they could reduce your risk.

If you’re a woman, make an appointment with your gynecologist for a cervical cancer screening. You should start screening at age 21 and continue until you’re 65.

HPV is very common. Most people with HPV don’t know they have an infection and experience no symptoms.

If you have HPV, it doesn’t mean you’ll develop cervical cancer.

However, knowing that you have a high-risk type of HPV will help you and your doctor come up with a plan to reduce your risk for cervical cancer.

You can do your best to prevent HPV by getting tested for cervical cancer if you’re a woman, and by keeping your vaccinations current.

Know the facts

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 13,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018.

prices, get tested in Moscow near you at the DNAOM laboratory

HPV 16/18 type is a quantitative analysis that allows you to detect high oncogenic risk human papillomavirus in a sample and identify the viral load.

PCR method with real-time detection of results, allows you to determine the amount of DNA of clinically significant types of HPV in the sample.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common urinary tract infection that can cause cervical cancer in women and squamous cell carcinoma in men.

Various types of HPV cause the development of:

• cervical, vulval, vaginal cervical dysplasia;
• preinvasive and invasive cervical, vaginal and perianal cancers; genital warts, urinary tract;
• genital warts.

Routes of infection
The main route of transmission of HPV is sexual, but cases of household transmission of the infection have been described. Women and men are infected with the same frequency. Approximately 70% of those examined, HPV is detected in both sexual partners. Possible intrauterine infection.

According to some researchers, the frequency of infection with the virus is directly proportional to the number of sexual partners: in the presence of one partner, HPV is detected in 17-20% of women, in the presence of 5 or more partners – in 70-80%.

Incubation period
The duration of the incubation period can last from 2 months to 2-10 years. HPV is characterized by a latent course of the disease, in which there are no clinical manifestations, and a norm is revealed during colposcopic, cytological and histological examination. In 30% of cases, the virus can be cleared within 6-12 months. Diagnosis of latent HPV infection is carried out only by PCR.

Clinical manifestations
HPV can affect the epithelium in different ways: promote the emergence of benign formations (papillomas, condylomas) or combine papillomavirus DNA with the cell genome, which leads to dysplasia and neoplasia, and later to cancer. The most common area of ​​cancer localization is the transition zone of the cervix into the cervical canal.

Clinical forms of papillomavirus infection are found in 40-60% of men who are sexual partners of infected women. The lesions in them are caused by the same types of HPV as in women. In 2/3 of cases, there are characteristic rashes on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs.

HPV can affect the epithelium in different ways: promote the emergence of benign formations (papillomas, condylomas) or the combination of papillomavirus DNA with the cell gene, which leads to dysplasia (neoplasia) and later to cancer (most often in the transitional zone of the cervix ).

Preparation
Women
It is not recommended to take biomaterial against the background of antibiotic therapy (general / local) and during menses, earlier than 24-48 hours after sexual contact, intravaginal ultrasound and colposcopy. It is recommended to take the material not earlier than 14 days after the use of antibacterial drugs and local antiseptics, and not earlier than 1 month after oral antibiotics.

Men
If a scraping from the urethra is taken for research, the collection of material is carried out before or not earlier than 2-3 hours after urination.

Urine
The material is collected in a sterile plastic container. The first portion of morning urine is collected. At the first morning urination, a small amount of urine (the first 1-2 seconds) should be released into the toilet, and then, without interrupting urination, collect the first portion of urine in a clean container. Continue urinating into the toilet. Close container, label.

Before collecting urine, a thorough hygienic toilet of the external genitalia should be carried out. Women are not recommended to take a urine test during menstruation; to prevent vaginal discharge from entering the urine. Women are advised to insert a tampon into the vagina.

Exclude alcohol intake and sexual intercourse the day before the test.

90,000 prices, take tests in Moscow next to you in the Laboratory by the Dnuccom

Media virus 16/18 Type, HPV 16/18 – high -quality detection of a human papilloma virus in the abbreviation of the urogenital tract, method of polymerase chain reaction from detection in real time.

PCR method with real-time detection of results, allows you to determine the amount of DNA of clinically significant types of HPV in the sample.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common urinary tract infection that can cause cervical cancer in women and squamous cell carcinoma in men.

Various types of HPV cause the development of:

• cervical, vulval, vaginal cervical dysplasia;
• preinvasive and invasive cervical, vaginal and perianal cancers;
• genital warts, urinary tract;
• genital warts.

Routes of infection
The main route of transmission of HPV is sexual, but cases of household transmission of the infection have been described. Women and men are infected with the same frequency. Approximately 70% of those examined, HPV is detected in both sexual partners. Possible intrauterine infection.

According to some researchers, the frequency of infection with the virus is directly proportional to the number of sexual partners: in the presence of one partner, HPV is detected in 17-20% of women, in the presence of 5 or more partners – in 70-80%.

Incubation period
The duration of the incubation period can last from 2 months to 2-10 years. HPV is characterized by a latent course of the disease, in which there are no clinical manifestations and no changes are detected during colposcopic, cytological and histological examination. In 30% of cases, the virus can be cleared within 6-12 months. Diagnosis of latent HPV infection is carried out only by PCR.

Clinical manifestations
HPV can affect the epithelium in different ways: promote the emergence of benign formations (papillomas, condylomas) or combine papillomavirus DNA with the cell gene, which leads to dysplasia and neoplasia, and later to cancer. The most common area of ​​cancer localization is the transition zone of the cervix into the cervical canal.

Clinical forms of papillomavirus infection are found in 40-60% of men who are sexual partners of infected women. The lesions in them are caused by the same types of HPV as in women. In 2/3 of cases, there are characteristic rashes on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs.

Indications for testing:

• persons undergoing testing for other STIs;
• women with a burdened obstetric and gynecological history – manifestations of transforming dysplasia in varying degrees;
• clinically indicated men;
• immunosuppression;
• preventive screening tests.

With timely examination and proper treatment, the risk of high-risk HPV degeneration, including papillomavirus types 16, 18, into cancer can be minimized.

Training
Men
Before taking a urogenital scraping, it is recommended to refrain from urinating for 1.5–2 hours.

Women
Scraping is not allowed on the days of menstruation. For two weeks, exclude the use of antibiotics, three days before taking – vaginal suppositories, tampons, spermicides. One day before the test, you should not have sexual intercourse. You can not douche on the eve of the examination. After ultrasound using a transvaginal probe, at least 48 hours must pass.

Interpretation of results
The format for issuing the result of HPV 16/18 type is detected / not detected.

Reasons for a positive result:


• the presence of HPV genotypes 16 and 18 in the test material, which is associated with a high risk of developing cervical cancer and other neoplasms of the anogenital region.

Reasons for negative result:


• absence of HPV genotypes 16 and 18 in the test material, which does not exclude the possibility of HPV infection of other genotypes.

What can influence the result?

• A false-negative result is possible if the material is taken and stored incorrectly, as well as if the virus content in the material is below the detectable level.
• A false-positive result is due to contamination of the material.