Student Wellness Center at OSU : Sexual Wellness : STIs : Genital HPV Infection

The Choice is Yours
Choosing to have sex with someone

"One World, One Campus, One Voice"

HIV Antibody Testing & Counseling
HIV Antibody Testing ADVANCEs

More News >

Sexual Wellness

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Genital HPV Infection

Estimated number of new cases each year in the U.S.:

6.2 million

Statistics:

There are more than 30 sexually transmitted strains of the HPV virus, including genital warts. Four of the 30 sexually transmitted strains are considered "high risk" and can lead to cervical cancer in females. It is estimated that 50-75% of sexually active men and women acquire HPV infection at some point in their lives

Caused by:

HPV (Human papillomavirus) virus

Symptoms:

Most often, there are none in men and women. Or there could be soft, moist, pink or red swellings- raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, internal or external.

Transmission:

HPV is spread during intimate physical contact, most often during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a person who is infected or through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

Treatment:

No cure. There are several treatments for genital warts, and symptoms of HPV may go away, but you will still carry the virus and be able to infect other partners. There is a new vaccination out for women to prevent transmission of 5 strains of HPV (some that lead to cervical cancer). It is recommended you speak with your clinician to see if the vaccination is right for you.

If Untreated:

In some cases, untreated HPV can cause cervical, penile, or anal cancer.

Risk Reduction:

Latex barriers reduce, but do not eliminate, the risk of transmission.
Women should get regular pap smears, since an abnormal pap smear may indicate the presence of HPV.
Limit the number of sex partners, and do not go back and forth between partners.
Practice sexual abstinence, or limit sexual contact to one partner you know is not infected.
If you think you are infected, avoid sexual contact and see a health care provider.

Source for information on this page: CDC Division of STD Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/dstdp.html