Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by a virus. There are over 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of males and females.
Street Name: HPV
Symptoms: There are several strains of HPV. Most strains (90%) go away on their own, with no serious harm to the body. There are some strains that do cause serious issues. HPV strains that cause genital warts show up as a group of bumps shaped similar to cauliflower. These can also be found in the mouth area.Some strains of HPV have also been linked to cervical cancer, as well as some throat and mouth cancers.
Treatment/ Relief: There is no cure for HPV, but in some (not all) instances the body can get rid of the virus. Gential warts can be frozen or surgically removed. There is a vaccine available for most of of the common HPV strains that cause both cervical cancer and gential warts.
How you get it: HPV can be transmitted through vaginal, oral and anal sex, as well as genital-to-gential contact (sex play). HPV can be transmitted in same-sex and straight couples. Most people that have HPV do not know they are infected and can carry the virus for years after they are infected. A person can have more than one strain.
What should you know:
There are about 100 different types of HPV floating around, with about 40 of them infecting humans. More than 50% of sexuallly active people will have HPV at some point in their lives.
How does this impact pregnancy?
In rare cases, a pregnant woman could infect the infant with HPV during delivery.