STD of the Week: HPV
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| Wed, 01-23-2008 - 8:08am |
No cute microbes for this one, but did you know that 80% of women have this? Or are susceptible to it?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection that causes abnormal growth of tissue on the skin of the body. There are more than 100 types of HPV, some of which cause common warts found on areas like hands and feet. However, over 30 types are usually sexually transmitted and are known as genital human papillomavirus. Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
HPV should not be confused with genital herpes, another STD. Both are caused by viruses, but HPV may cause warts while herpes may cause blisters or sores. Both diseases often do not cause any symptoms. There is no cure for either disease, but in most cases, the body’s immune system will fight off HPV. With herpes, the virus lies dormant in the body and can cause future outbreaks. Unlike herpes, certain types of HPV cause cervical dysplasia (precancerous changes in the cervix) in a small percentage of women.
For more information, go to the HPV information page.
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