Human Papillomavirus: Infection, Symptoms, and Immunization
The HPV vaccine is one of the bright spots in cancer treatments today. It’s a proven preventive measure that reduces the risk of cancer and protects at-risk populations, offering equitable protection against human papillomavirus infections. If you’re wondering if you should get the HPV vaccine, here is more information to help you make an informed choice after speaking with your healthcare provider.
What Is the Human Papillomavirus?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a category of common viruses that spread through skin-to-skin contact. Most of these viruses are primarily spread during sexual activity, and nearly all adults are infected at some point in their lives. In most cases, the body can fight off the virus, usually without expressing any symptoms.
In other cases, the body cannot fight off the virus, which leads to a range of symptoms, including several types of cervical, throat, anus, penile, vagina, and vulvar cancers.
Types of HPV
There are over 200 known types of HPV, and each one impacts the body in slightly different ways. It’s best to divide them into two main categories of viruses:
Low-risk HPV strains cause warts and other skin issues, but they don’t cause cancer.
High-risk HPV strains cause infections that may last years; if left untreated, they may cause cancer.
How does a virus turn into cancer?
HPV does not turn into cancer or a tumor. Instead, high-risk strains of HPV cause changes in the affected cells that may eventually lead to tumor development. It can take years or even decades for HPV to cause cellular mutation, which allows screening, like Pap smears, to detect early precancerous cells.
Symptoms of HPV Infection
In most cases, HPV that affects the genitals won’t cause symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are most likely warts: rough lumps that may also resemble skin tags. It can take months for genital warts to appear after exposure to HPV. Technically, all warts are caused by HPV, including flat warts, plantar warts, and periungual and subungual warts. None of the types of HPV that cause cancer cause warts.
How Does HPV Spread?
HPV is primarily spread through sexual contact. Genital infections spread when infected skin contacts the same body part on the other partner. HPV is highly contagious because it spreads by skin-to-skin contact. It even spreads through non-penetrative sex, including oral sex.
Women and HPV
HPV poses a health risk to both genders, but it has a significantly higher risk for women. HPV is much more likely to trigger cervical cancer if it isn’t identified early and treated appropriately. That’s why Pap smears are so important for detecting HPV infections early, and why HPV vaccinations are so important.
What Is the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is an injection that protects against a range of viruses, including those that cause genital warts and several types of cancer.
The vaccine does not contain a live virus, so it cannot give you an infection. Like most vaccines, it teaches the immune system to make antibodies that can fight off the real, live virus whenever the body is exposed. Because it works best when administered before an individual is sexually active, the CDC recommends that preteens get the shot around ages 11 or 12.
If you haven’t had the vaccine as a teen, there is a catch-up vaccine available through the age of 26. In most cases, older adults aren’t vaccinated, since they have likely already been exposed ot the virus through sexual contact.
Related: The Cancer Industry Problem
How Many Shots Is the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is administered in two or three doses.
Children under 15 receive the vaccine in two doses, usually 6 to 12 months apart.
Teens and adults 15 and older receive the vaccine in three doses administered over six months.
Do HPV Shots Hurt?
The shots for HPV may hurt for a few minutes, and some individuals report lingering soreness in the arm where the injection was received. Most healthcare providers and patients say the pain from an HPV shot is the same as any other immunization.
The HPV Vaccine Saves Lives
Despite some uninformed backlash against vaccinations in general, the HPV vaccine works. It prevents over 90% of cancers caused by human papillomavirus infections, significantly reducing the risk of several dangerous cancers. Since it was approved for use, there has been a dramatic drop in cervical cancer deaths and fewer precancerous growths.
Let’s Make Prevention a Priority
Less Cancer is committed to making cancer a policy priority through advocacy, education, and programming. The best cancer outcome is to prevent diagnoses to begin with, and that starts with access to healthcare, environmental protections, and ensuring healthcare providers identify lifestyle risk factors early. You can help by donating to Less Cancer today!