Understanding the Link Between HPV and Anal Warts: What You Need to Know

Are you concerned about the connection between human papillomavirus (HPV) and anal warts? In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the link between HPV and anal warts, as well as the importance of prevention and treatment options.

What is HPV?

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause various health problems, including anal warts. There are over 150 types of HPV, some of which are known to cause warts on different parts of the body, such as the anus and genitals. Other HPV types are linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer.

HPV is so common that most sexually active people will contract at least one type of the virus at some point in their lives. In many cases, the body's immune system can clear the infection on its own within a couple of years. However, some HPV infections can persist and lead to more serious health issues.

How are HPV and Anal Warts Connected?

Anal warts, also known as condyloma acuminata, are caused by specific types of HPV, particularly types 6 and 11. These warts appear as small, flesh-colored, or pink growths around the anus or in the anal canal. They can be flat or raised, single or multiple, and can vary in size.

HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual activity. As a result, people who engage in anal sex or have multiple sexual partners have a higher risk of contracting HPV and developing anal warts.

It's important to note that not everyone who has HPV will develop anal warts. In fact, many people with HPV never experience any symptoms at all. However, even without visible warts, an infected person can still transmit the virus to their sexual partners.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Anal Warts

Anal warts may cause symptoms such as itching, bleeding, or discomfort in the anal area. However, some people with anal warts may not experience any symptoms at all. A healthcare provider can diagnose anal warts through a visual examination or by performing a biopsy of the affected tissue.

In some cases, a healthcare provider may also recommend an anal Pap test, which involves collecting cells from the anal canal to screen for precancerous changes. This is particularly important for individuals who are at higher risk of developing anal cancer, such as those with a history of anal warts or HIV infection.

Treatment Options for Anal Warts

Treatment for anal warts may include topical medications, cryotherapy (freezing), electrocautery (burning), or surgical removal. The choice of treatment depends on the size, location, and number of warts present. It's essential to follow up with your healthcare provider to ensure that the warts have been effectively treated and to monitor for any recurrences.

In some cases, anal warts may recur even after successful treatment. This is because the underlying HPV infection can remain dormant in the body and reactivate at a later time. Regular follow-up with a healthcare provider can help catch and treat any recurrent warts early.

Preventing HPV Infection and Anal Warts

The most effective way to prevent HPV infection and the development of anal warts is through vaccination. The HPV vaccine, which is recommended for both males and females, can protect against the types of HPV that cause most cases of anal warts and HPV-related cancers.

The vaccine is most effective when given before an individual becomes sexually active and is exposed to HPV. However, even those who are already sexually active can benefit from the vaccine, as it can protect against HPV types they haven't encountered yet.

In addition to vaccination, practicing safe sex by using condoms and limiting the number of sexual partners can help reduce the risk of HPV transmission. However, it's important to remember that condoms do not provide complete protection against HPV, as the virus can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact in areas not covered by the condom.

Regular screening for anal cancer is also crucial, particularly for individuals at higher risk. Early detection and treatment of precancerous changes can prevent the development of anal cancer.

DON'T WAIT TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

If you suspect that you may have anal warts or are concerned about your risk of HPV infection, don't hesitate to contact me to schedule an appointment. Early detection and treatment are crucial in managing anal warts and preventing potential complications. Click here to book your appointment now.

By educating yourself about the link between HPV and anal warts, and taking proactive steps to prevent infection and detect any issues early, you can help protect your health and well-being. Don't be afraid to talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns and work together to develop a personalized prevention and treatment plan.

HPV test awareness, knowledge still low

Friends, I love hearing about HPV awareness in our nation, and how great it is.  However, if only those who I see day after day with diagnosed-HPV had been as educated.

I want to stop this cycle of amazing and brilliant people getting hurt solely by not being informed.  HPV education and prevention wasn't taught in school back in the days.  So now it's up to us to share the message.  And it's up to doctor's like me to lead the pack.   Let's do this.

I got you.

-- Dr. Dale

HPV test awareness, knowledge still low

By Shereen Jegtvig

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Americans are more aware that there is a test for the human papilloma virus (HPV) than counterparts in the UK and Australia, according to a new study, but few people knew much more than that.

"Awareness of HPV has tended to be low but has been rising since the introduction of testing and vaccination," said Jo Waller, the study's senior author.

People seem to be more aware of HPV vaccination than testing, however, which is not surprising given the publicity around the vaccine, added Waller, a public health researcher at University College London.

The Pap test, used to look for abnormal cell changes in the cervix, is much older and generally familiar to most people, but the newer HPV test looks for the virus that causes those changes, Waller said.

The HPV test was only introduced in the 1990s and it's used a little differently in each of the countries that were included in the new study, Waller pointed out.

In the U.S., HPV testing is used as a screening tool in women over the age of 30. In both the U.S. and the UK, HPV testing is also used along with the Pap test to determine the next steps in treatment - for instance, biopsy.

In the UK and Australia, the HPV test is also used to monitor treatment results.

Waller said that many studies have attempted to assess the public's knowledge about HPV and HPV testing, but they all used different methods and asked questions in different ways, so it's hard to compare the findings.

"We wanted to use the same questionnaire to look at knowledge across three countries where HPV testing is used in different ways," she told Reuters Health in an email.

The researchers used an online survey to find out if participants in the U.S., UK and Australia were aware of HPV testing and HPV in general.

The first question asked was 'Before today, had you ever heard of HPV?' Participants who responded 'yes' were then directed to 15 general questions about HPV.

Participants were then asked 'Have you ever heard of HPV testing?' Those who responded 'yes' were asked six more questions about the test.

Of the 2,409 men and women who answered the survey, about 61 percent had heard of HPV, Waller's team reports in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Among those who had heard of the virus, only half were aware of the HPV test. Awareness of the HPV test was higher in the U.S. than in the UK and Australia.

The participants who had heard of HPV testing, on average, answered less than half of questions about details of testing correctly. Overall, women knew more than men.

Most of the survey participants did know, for example, that the HPV test can be done at the same time as the Pap test, and that a positive HPV test doesn't mean a woman will definitely get cervical cancer.

But they didn't know a negative HPV test indicates a low risk of cervical cancer. Few also knew that the HPV test is not an indicator of whether the HPV vaccine is needed.

"It's also important for people to understand that although the HPV vaccine protects against HPV, it's still really important for women to have screening, to check for (virus) types not covered by the vaccine," Waller said.

Women who are screened and found not to have the HPV virus should be reassured that their risk of developing cervical cancer over the next five years is extremely low, Waller added.

SOURCE: bit.ly/1aLPRNE Sexually Transmitted Infections, Online January 9, 2014.

HPV & Cervical Cancer: What You Should Know

Hi friends - this is an informative article on the HPV-cervical cancer connection.  Read this please, and if you have any concerns concerning protection, please come see me in the office or email me privately.  I got you. -- Dr. Dale

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When a woman's Pap smear—a test for detecting precancerous or cancerous cervical cells—is abnormal, and she is diagnosed with human papilloma virus (HPV), she may feel pretty worried. After all, each year, American women develop more than 20,000 HPV-related cancers. Cervical cancer is the most common, but HPV is also associated with other cancers such as vulva, vaginal, penile, anal and throat cancer.

While a HPV diagnosis is troubling—and certainly nothing to take lightly—in most cases, there is no need to panic. The HPV virus appears to be able to "clear" on its own in young, healthy women, so a woman who receives an abnormal Pap one year may have a normal one the following year. “At least 80 percent of young women will be HPV positive at some point,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and author of A Woman's Guide to Sexual Health. In other words, most instances of the virus won't progress to full-blown cancer.

Still, no one can assume her body will clear the virus—particularly women ages 30 and older. Additionally, while most types of HPV resolve spontaneously, certain strains of the virus are more likely to persist and cause precancerous cell changes that can lead to cervical lesions. So the more you know about HPV and how to avoid it, the safer you’ll be. Below are ways to guard yourself against this ubiquitous sexually transmitted infection.

Get vaccinated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two HPV vaccines. Gardasil protects against four strains of the virus (out of more than 100), says Minkin: “The high-risk ‘baddies’ are strains 16 and 18, which account for about 70 percent of cervical cancers.  Strains 6 and 11 are responsible for yucky warts. That’s why Gardasil protects against those four.”

The other vaccine, Cervarix, protects against HPV 16 and 18 but not HPV-related warts. Both are given in three injections over six months.

“All kids—girls and boys—need to be immunized,” says Minkin. Both vaccines are approved for ages 9-25. It’s best to get the vaccine before becoming sexually active. Some insurance plans cover the vaccines, as does Medicaid, and both manufacturers also offer help for those who can’t afford them (about $130 per dose).

The vaccines are not approved for people over age 26 because studies have not shown them to be effective in older people, but women 26+ can protect themselves by getting regular screenings for HPV, following up on abnormal results, having limited sexual partners (one, preferably), and making sure any sexual partner is infection-free.

Read more: http://www.eveningtribune.com/article/20140121/NEWS/301219922/2153/LIFESTYLE#ixzz2rTxtcmUH Read more: http://www.eveningtribune.com/article/20140121/NEWS/301219922/2153/LIFESTYLE#ixzz2rTwioMAK