HPV testing for women

Many doctors will argue that testing for HPV is an art, not a science. This simply means that there is no precise, one hundred percent accurate way to test for HPV.

The most common symptoms of HPV, being warts, are generally easy to identify. Be they common or genital warts, they’re easily spotted by their conspicuous cauliflower like appearance.

Even so, if you suspect that you have contracted HPV, it is a good idea to have your doctor verify this. Oftentimes, what may be a simple blemish, a pimple, or something else entirely may be misidentified as a wart, and the wrong treatment may be applied, as such, it’s always wise to attain a professional’s opinion.

That said, warts are not the primary concern in HPV testing for women. The primary concern is the risk of HPV types 16 or 18 developing into cervical cancer.

A lot of attention is paid in the media to the problems of breast cancer, of HIV, and, more recently, of Swine Flu. It seems odd, then, that so little attention is paid to cervical cancer and HPV, as, every year, cervical cancer kills an estimated forty thousand women. The vast majority of these cases are linked to human papilloma virus.

To be clear, the HPV strains that do lead to cervical cancer are not the types that lead to genital warts and similar conditions. Rather, the HPV types that lead to cervical cancer show absolutely no symptoms visible to the naked eye. Vaginal bleeding may occur, but it is much more common for the condition to show absolutely no symptoms until the cancer has developed into an advanced stage.

You check yourself for lumps and you check your skin for spots after a day in the sun, it is equally important to have a regular pap smear conducted.

You will want to talk to your doctor to arrange scheduled pap smears. The information below will provide a rough guideline, but there are several factors at play, besides your age, that should determine how frequently you should have the test conducted.

For sexually active women or women over the age of eighteen, you should have a pap smear conducted once every one, two, or three years. Although many doctors insist on an annual pap test for any woman aged eighteen to thirty.

A majority of doctors believe that a woman who has reached the ages of sixty five to seventy with no abnormal test results may safely stop having the test conducted. Most women who have had hysterectomies performed do not need pap smears after two or three years of normal results.

A woman who has had a series of abnormal test results may be asked to take a pap test every six months in order for her doctor to keep a close eye on the situation. Abnormal test results may be a bit ambiguous, and it may be hard to identify the problem, if there even is a problem in the first place, with a single pap smear.

When portions of the cervix are removed or operated on in response to an abnormal test result, an annual test should be conducted in order to check for recurrence of abnormal cell growth

Most importantly, you should absolutely not neglect your doctor’s advice regarding a regular pap test. Even if you believe a regular pap test to be unnecessary due to your age or other circumstance, you should not stop having the test conducted until your doctor says so.

Michelle Anderson - About the Author:

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV. We are dedicated to helping you. For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV Treatment.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/hpv-testing-for-women-1358646.html

HPV Virus - The Simple Facts

Human papillomavirus or the HPV virus is known to affect the moist membranes, skin and other linings of the body, such as the lining of the mouth and throat, cervix and anus.

There are various types of HPV virus and each type has a different number. An additional fact about HPV virus is that it is very common on humans, and it occurs at some point of their lives. For most people, it shows no symptoms and disappears without ever being treated. It is much more common in young people, possibly because they are more sexually active and share a larger number of partners.

Some types of the HPV virus are found in the lining of the mouth and throat and within the cells of the cervix that can cause some changes, these are known to be high risk HPVs.  These changes in cells are also called ‘dysplasia’ and have an increased risk of becoming cancerous.

Other types of HPV can cause verrucas and warts. These types of HPV are sometimes called the ‘wart virus’ or ‘genital wart virus’ and  are commonly found on the hands and feet, in the genital area and around the anus. But they can be on any part of the body. They are types of HPV virus that don’t usually cause cell changes and may not develop into cancer. They are called low risk HPVs.

Genital HPV is usually spread through skin to skin contact during sex. You can have this type of HPV virus for years and not have any sign of it. So it is not that unusual to have a long term partner and then be told you have the virus after medical tests such as cervical screening.

But having HPV virus doesn’t automatically indicate that you or your partner has been unfaithful. There are no symptoms to indicate how long you have had the virus. It could be weeks, months or years.

Some types of high risk HPV develop cervical cancer. They are called high risk types or strains. Almost all women with cervical cancer have at least one of these types of HPV virus in the cells of their cervix.

Keep in mind that most women with high risk HPV don’t develop cervical cancer.  Many studies stated that these factors affect whether you develop a cancer, such as smoking or how well your immune system is working. Women who smoke and have a high risk type of HPV infection are more prone to have cervical cancer.

You should have regular cervical screening; this will lift abnormal cervical cells before they lead to cancer. So even if you have HPV virus and can’t refrain from smoking, you can still stop cervical cancer if you prefer to submit yourself for screening when you are invited.

 

AndreaSegovia - About the Author:

Andrea Segovia inspires people seeking natural health solutions by providing tips on treatment methods that work naturally with the body. She contributes to the work stream in topics ranging from health, travel, and natural living. She is passionately involved with sharing her discoveries on HPV

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/hpv-virus-the-simple-facts-1102911.html

Different Types of HPV

HPV isn’t just one condition or one disease. Human Papillomavirus spreads across a wide range of different infection types. The good news is that the most common types are easily treatable, and that many of the least common types tend to be essentially harmless, showing no actually symptoms.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll only focus on the types you need to be concerned about. These include the various HPV types that do show symptoms in the form of warts, and a few types which do not show symptoms, but which can lead to further complications. The fact is that there are a lot of HPV types that you simply don’t have to worry about, so we’ll focus on the more harmful or uncomfortable types which can be prevented, identified, and properly treated.

Common Warts

These are the types we’ve all had, types 2 and 7. They cause warts on the hands and feet, but they’re really not a big deal, they’re just ugly and uncomfortable. Some simple over the counter treatment can usually take care of them.

Plantar Warts

Caused by types 1, 2 and 4. These are not dangerous, but are even less comfortable than hand warts, as they effect the bottom of the feet and can make the simple act of walking a pain. These are best dealt with quickly.

Flat Warts

Flat warts are similar to plantar warts, in that they tend to affect the feet and are uncomfortable, but tend to be sort of “ingrown”. These are caused by types 3 and 10.

Anogenital Warts

Caused by types 6, 11, 42, 43, 44, 55 and a number of others. These are basically what we call “genital warts” and can affect the genitals and the anus. There is little to no overlap between genital warts and genital cancers. If you have anogenital warts, they won’t lead to cervical cancer, but it goes without saying that these are best treated quickly with advice from a medical professional.

Genital Cancers

Types 16, 18, 31, 35, 38, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73 and 82. Genital cancers are caused by HPV types affecting the genitals without actually showing any warts. In women, these can typically only be identified by a pap smear.

Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis is actually a hereditary skin condition, and can result in typically asymptomatic HPV types resulting in warts or scales. More than 15 types of HPV can be associated with this condition. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis cannot be contracted from HPV, though, and is completely hereditary.

Focal Epithelia Hyperplasia

Focal epithelia hyperplasia, also known as “Heck’s disease” is an oral infection causing pink, whitish, mucosal masses in the mouth. The masses are painless and contagious, occurring commonly in children and adolescents, sometimes continuing into adulthood. This condition is associated with HPV types 13 and 32. No severe health problems have been linked to this condition.

Oral Papillomas

Oral warts can be caused by HPV types 6, 7, 11, 16 and 32. Luckily, oral papillomas are quite rare, though are best dealt with via surgery.

Michelle Anderson - About the Author:

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV. We are dedicated to helping you. For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV Treatment.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/different-types-of-hpv-1032798.html

Talking to your Sex Partner about HPV

Here is one of the simple truths of love and sex in the modern world: You need to be willing to have frank, open discussions with your partner about all matters relating to sex.

To put it bluntly, it’s not the 1950’s anymore, and it’s not a great idea to be shy or ashamed when it comes to talking to your partner about sex. If you’re a little bashful about it, remember, they talk about this stuff on daytime TV, so why be embarrassed over talking about it with the person you take to bed?

You should be willing to talk about every possible detail of your sex life with your partner, be willing to listen, and put no subject out of bounds. This is true when discussing more personal details of satisfaction, but especially true when it comes to issues of health.

If you have, or have had in the past, HPV, you need to tell any new sex partner before intercourse occurs. We know that all of this sort of clinical advice can be difficult to put to work in the real world. There’s no better way to spoil that “first time” mood than to say “Oh by the way, I have genital warts, but it’s all cleared up, now!”

What you need to do, then, is simply not be bashful about the sexual tension between yourself and your new potential partner. There are no set rules for this sort of thing, but as soon as sexual interaction becomes an open possibility for the future, say around the second date (or the end of the first, if you’re getting along incredibly well) it’s a good idea for both partners to divulge their sexual histories to one another. Get it out of the way early on so you don’t have to surprise anyone with it later.

Now, let’s say you’re clean, you’ve never contracted HPV or any other sort of venereal disease, so… do you need to have this talk?

Yes, of course you do. Having a frank talk about venereal diseases and sexual history isn’t just for your partner’s benefit, it’s for your benefit, as well. In the event that your partner does have HPV or another STD, you need to talk about it, and somebody needs to break the ice. That won’t always be the person who actually does have HPV. It’s not that somebody’s trying to keep a secret, but… can be embarrassing for someone who’s suffered genital HPV to willingly bring it up, so that puts the burden on your shoulders to get the talk started.

In this day and age, we’re not going to say “Ask your partner for a full list of the names and phone numbers of every previous sexual partner”, but some time does need to be dedicated to talking about this sort of thing. Know “where your partner has been”, as it were.

In short, educate yourself on HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and don’t be embarrassed. It’s a talk that every couple needs to have.

And remember that HPV isn’t a red light for a sexual relationship, it only means that you need to be careful. Remember that HPV can still be spread without any visible symptoms taking place, and even with a condom, so if you do contract HPV, talk with your physician before having sex again.

Michelle Anderson - About the Author:

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV. We are dedicated to helping you. For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/talking-to-your-sex-partner-about-hpv-1016107.html

at You Need To Know About High-Risk HPV

What is HPV? Human papillomavirus has a strain of more than 100 viruses and it can affect several parts of the human body. HPV types could be distinguished as low-risk and high-risk, while a common HPV infection is genital HPV. If you are concerned about it you should read on.

Physicians have determined that HPV has the possibility to develop into cancer and it is referred to as the high-risk HPV type while the other that is unlikely to cause lesions and develop into cancer is known as low-risk. However, both types can produce the development of abnormal cells.

High-risk HPV causes growth on the area of the cervix which is nearly visible, and mostly flat unlike those of the low-risk that are external warts. Bear in mind that a extreme case of high-risk HPV infection can go away on its own usually through a change in lifestyle, and may not cause the development of cancer. But if left untreated and if the infection does not go away on it's own high risk HPV can be the primary risk factor for cancer of the cervix. This type of HPV, the high-risk one does not cause health problems.

Several strains of HPV can also cause warts on the hands, feet and some parts of the body, while some strains are called genital HPV because they are transmitted through sexual intercourse and can cause warts that grow in the genital area like the vagina, vulva, cervix, anus, rectum, scrotum, and penis.

Genital HPV can cause abnormal cells mainly in the women’s cervix and it can be precancerous. If you had had sexual contact with an HPV-infected person, the warts will or may come out within some weeks after. Sometimes it may take a few months or years to appear, or they may not at all show up. It may as well cause flat, abnormal growth in the area of the genitals and of the cervix.  In spite of this, if the cervix gets infected with HPV it frequently does not set off any symptoms.

To top it all, if a person does have high-risk HPV, it does not mean that the person will have cancer of the cervix. Even if the human papillomavirus causes damage, with the help of Pap smear tests, cell changes can be located and ministered to put a stop from developing cancer. Nonetheless, you need to be more mindful about your health and always remember that prevention is better than cure.

 

Judith Sherven - About the Author:

Andrea Segovia inspires people seeking natural health solutions by providing tips on treatment methods that work naturally with the body. She contributes to the work stream in topics ranging from health, travel, and natural living. She is passionately involved with sharing her discoveries on HPV in Man.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-highrisk-hpv-989761.html

Nutrition to reduce risk of HPV

There is no magic diet, no special fruit or vegetable that will make you impervious to HPV. There’s no way to reduce risk of contracting HPV by 100%, as even the HPV vaccine only protects against the high risk forms that can lead to cancer and so on. That said, you can make some simple changes to your diet to improve your immune system, so as to greatly reduce your risk of contracting HPV, and, should you contract HPV, your immune system will be able to rid your body of the infection that much more quickly.

In fact, let’s forget about HPV for a minute and just consider this: If you eat healthy, you will feel better.

A lot of health food people get it wrong. Eating better isn’t about living longer, it’s not about avoiding foods that will “kill you” (no food can really kill you unless you’re suffering from serious obesity or blood pressure and cholesterol problems) it’s about making the years you have available to you more enjoyable. If you eat well, you will be in a better mood, as nutrition plays a vital part in maintaining mental health. If you eat well, you’ll be stronger, faster, less tired, you’ll feel more comfortable and look better in your own body, your skin will look and feel better, your bones will be stronger, you’ll get sick less often, and you will be happier. You will live longer, as well, but the real point is that, in the here and now, you can improve your quality of life by leaps and bounds by making a few simple dietary changes.

Fruits and vegetables

Here’s the basic rule of fruits and vegetables: There’s almost no such thing as too much.

You may have heard of the supposed “superfruits” which have become pretty trendy these days, but honestly, most of them aren’t much stronger than your average orange or apple. However, if an exotic flavour is enough to get you eating more fruits, go for it.

Look for fruits especially high in vitamin C, most obviously, the orange.

As for vegetables, try just switching sugary, salty snacks out with salads. Play around with different combinations and lighter dressings until you have something you like. Salads mainly provide fiber, which can help to keep your system clean and flush out excess waste. This can be enormously helpful in improving your immune system and preventing colon cancer.

Water

It sounds like a lot, but try to drink about a gallon a day. Water doesn’t contain vitamins or anything, but it works as a sort of lubrication for your body and basically improves all facets of your biological functions.

Protein

You do need protein to keep your immune system and your skin strong to help fight off HPV infection. Try to avoid red meat, though. Something to keep in mind, pork is actually one of the safest, healthiest meats available. It gets a bad name, and certainly, bacon is probably the worst food you can eat, but it digests more easily than beef and is less greasy. If you can get more protein from beans or fish, that’s even better.

Exercise

Nutrition only goes so far. You can have a perfect diet, but if you don’t keep yourself active, your immune system won’t be strong enough to deal with an HPV infection quickly and effectively. Stay fit. If you can make time for some daily situps and pushups, great. If not, at the very least you should take a walk every day.

Michelle Anderson - About the Author:

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV. We are dedicated to helping you. For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/nutrition-to-reduce-risk-of-hpv-1082296.html

Treatments For Hpv Infection In Men

Some of the 30 or so types of HPV associated with genital cancers can lead to cancer of the anus or penis in men. Both of these cancer types are rare, especially in men with a healthy immune system. Other types of HPV virus rarely cause cancer in men, but they do cause genital warts. At a given point in time, about 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. will have genital warts.

The risk of anal cancer is about 17 times higher in sexually active gay and bisexual men than in men who have sex only with women. If a man's long-term sexual partner has HPV, chances are good HPV transmission has already occurred and he also has it. Men who have HIV are also at higher risk of getting this cancer.

The HPV types associated with cervical cancer usually do not cause health problems for a heterosexual man having sex with an HPV-infected woman. If a partner has HPV, it does not necessarily mean they have had sex with someone else recently. The virus can lay dormant in the body for years without causing noticeable symptoms.

How to diagnose genital warts in men? To diagnose genital warts in men, the doctor will visually check a man's genital area to see if warts are present. Some doctors will apply a vinegar solution to help identify warts that aren't raised and visible. But the test is not foolproof. Sometimes normal skin is mistakenly identified as a wart.

There is no routine test for men to check for high-risk HPV strains that can cause cancer. However, some doctors are urging anal Pap tests for gay and bisexual men, who are at higher risk of anal cancer caused by HPV. In an anal Pap test, the doctor collects cells from the anus, and then has them checked for abnormalities in a lab.

HPV in men may clear from the body more easily than in women. Women, in general, often clear the virus in two years or less. The HPV vaccine Gardasil, approved for use in women in 2006, is not yet approved for men. Studies are still being done to determine if the vaccine works in males. Eventually, public health experts say, boys and men may be vaccinated.

Anal cancer can be treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. The specific treatments depend on the stage of cancer -- how big the tumor is and how far the cancer has spread. Early treatment of warts is discouraged by some doctors because genital warts can go away on their own. It can also take time for all warts to appear.

So a person who treats warts as soon as they appear may need another treatment later on. There is no treatment for HPV infection in men when no symptoms are present. Instead, doctors treat the health problems that are caused by the HPV virus. When genital warts appear, a variety of treatments can be used.

The patient can apply prescription creams at home. Or a doctor can surgically remove or freeze off the warts. However, the patient is subject to a painful surgical intervention which results in skin damage/scarring along with the probability the warts will return. Vaccine can stop the HPV virus from infecting the system but is not useful at all for those already affected with warts.

As the antiviral properties of AntiWarts-Rx have the demonstrated ability to penetrate all layers of the skin and enter the blood stream via topical application, they have received considerable attention. Some of the most impressive results consistently achieved with medicinal plants are in the elimination of warts.

When treating warts, application of AntiWarts-Rx hits the infection hard and fast utilizing the powerful forces of its naturally occurring monoterpenes. These micro particles provide the most rapid absorption; they enter cell membranes with incredible swiftness and have a direct antiviral effect against warts.

Viruses exhibit rapid rates of mutation which can make immunity difficult to sustain. Once a cell is infected it is difficult to selectively inhibit the virus without harming the host cell. As a result, much interest has focused on plants as strong allies in restoring immune strength and inhibiting the spread of viral diseases. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.

 

bcured - About the Author:

staff of Nature Power Company, which is a network company dedicated to promoting customers\' websites and developing softwares. You can go to the following websites to learn more about our natural organic products. http://www.bcured.net  http://www.naturespharma.org

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/treatments-for-hpv-infection-in-men-1809978.html