By Jeanna Hepler MSN ARNP BC
Q. What is HPV?
With the recent FDA appproval of the HPV vaccine, many women are looking for Information about this misunderstood virus. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Approximately 6.2 million people test positive for HPV every year, and close to 50% of sexually active men and women will become infected at some point in their lives.
However, a large portion of the population has never heard of the virus or has limited knowledge. Anyone participating in sexual activity with skin to skin contact is subject to contracting HPV. Most types of HPV are harmless, do not cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. The mean time for clearance of HPV is approximately 8 to 9 months, and it clears in most women by 24 months.

To date, more than 100 types of HPV exist, and approximately 30 infect the genital skin. They are classified as low to high risk types according to their association with cervical cancer. High-risk types can cause abnormal cells in the cervix that could lead to cervical cancer. Low-risk types can cause genital warts or changes in the cervix that are non-cancerous. An important concept in understanding HPV and neoplasia is that HPV is usually transient but could become persistent. Persistent HPV has the potential to develop into a precancerous lesion with progression to invasive cancer.

Q. How do I know if I have HPV?
The Pap test has been the most sucessful screening test in reducing cervical cancer and cervical cancer deaths in those who are screened regularly. When combined with HPV testing, the Pap is a sensitive tool for identifying women who have persistent or long-term HPV that could be missed by a Pap alone. The risk of a positive test result increases in seriousness with age, as does the risk of cervical cancer. While the peak age for HPV infection is the mid-20s, the peak incidence of invasive cervical cancer is about 15 years later in the fourth or fifth decades. Cervical cancer is a somewhat rare occurrence that may develop if high-risk HPV persists. However, other cofactors such as immuno-competence level, high number of sexual partners, and smoking likely contribute to integration of the virus into the cells.