HPV and Cervical Cancer
While there are 30 strands of HPV, 13 have been found is cervical cancer cases around the world. For most women, HPV will go away on its own (scientists are debating whether or not the virus "goes away" or becomes dormant). In some women, signs of the virus do not go away, and it is possible for cervical cancer to develop. However, with preventative care, such as routine paps, women can have hope that they will not develop cervical cancer.
HPV is a known cause for warts as well as other cancers including penile, anal, vagina, and oral.
Cervical Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, "cervical cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests".
Often, one will notice symptoms when the cancer is already in an advance stage.
Pap Test
A pap test is a procedure in which cells are gently scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope. A pap test looks for abnormalities in the cells. According to the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, "an abnormal pap smear usually does not mean that you have cervical cancer... about 1 in every 20 Pap smears are considered abnormal...(can be due to) technical problems (such as) your cervical cells could not be clearly seen under the microscope, or your Pap smear did not contain enough cervical cells for interpretation". Request the ThinPrep® Pap Test™ (contact AmeriPath® for more information) to avoid some of these technical problems.
Prevent HPV: Abstinence
Studies conducted in the 1950's in France showed that Nuns (virgins) did not have HPV; however, it was quite often present in sexually active women. This led to the conclusion that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. According to the American Cancer Society, you are at risk of HPV if you:
(had) sexual intercourse at an early age
(have) many sexual partners
(have) sex with a partner who has had many other partners
(have) unprotected sex*
*scientists are in debate whether or not this is true
Penile Cancer
For the most part, men are carriers of the disease, but HPV is present in over 60% cases of penile cancer (MedicineNet).
According to the National Cancer Institute, penile cancer is a rare cancer that forms in the penis (an external male reproductive organ). Most penile cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in flat cells lining the penis).