Everything you need to know about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

HPV is a virus which affects the skin, there are over one hundred different types of HPV so they are a group rather than one individual condition.

Most people do not suffer any adverse consequences if they contract HPV but the virus can lead on to more serious conditions in a few patients. 

How is HPV spread, how do you contract it?
Because many of the Human Papilloma Viruses affect the mouth and the genital area, they are easy to catch from other people often during intimate contact. You do not need to have sexual intercourse to acquire HPV from a partner.  Happily, there is a treatment for the Human Papilloma Virus.

How is Human Papilloma Virus actually passed from one person to another?
This can happen with sexual intercourse either vaginal or anal and oral sex but equally, the virus can be transmitted by any skin on skin contact in the genital region.

What are the symptoms of HPV?
Commonly, the Human Papilloma Virus is symptomless which explains how it is spread so easily.  Most people will acquire HPV at some point in their lives.

What are the outcomes of HPV?
Some people may develop genital warts which can be easily treated but occasionally, the cells of the virus behave abnormally and can sometimes develop into more serious conditions such as cancer in the genital area so anal cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the penis or the vulva.  There are also links between HPV and cancers in the head and neck area.

Protection against HPV
It is quite difficult to protect against the transmission of HPV as the virus is often symptomless and even condoms do not fully insure against the skin to skin contact in the genital area.

There is a vaccine available called the HPV vaccine which will protect against certain types of HPV that result in genital warts and cervical cancer, however, this inoculation does not protect against all the Human Papilloma Viruses.

Treatment for HPV
There is a cream called Aldara which is used to help treat genital warts in children over the age of 12 and adults.  You can buy Aldara cream online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet quickly and discretely.  Read more about it on our website www.pharmacyplanet.com