Table of Contents
How does HPV affect daily life?
Most people infected with HPV do not develop any symptoms or health problems from the virus because the body’s immune system is able to fight off the infection. “For the overwhelming majority of people, having an HPV infection has no impact on their lives,” Dr. Cullins says.
Does HPV affect your whole body?
HPV stands for human papilloma virus. It is a very common virus. There are about 100 types of HPV that affect different parts of the body. About 30 types of HPV can affect the genitals — including the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis and scrotum — as well as the rectum and anus.
How long can you survive without HPV treatment?
Living with HPV According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an HPV infection typically resolves without treatment within 2 years . Estimates are that 90\% of HPV infections will clear, with the help of the immune system, without causing any harm.
How does HPV affect the immune system?
HPV can also induce immune evasion of the infected cells, which enable the virus to be undetectable for long periods of time. The induction of immunotolerance of the host’s immune system by the persistent infection of HPV is one of the most important mechanisms for cervical lesions.
What type of infection does HPV cause in the body?
HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (called oropharyngeal cancer).
How long does HPV stay in your system?
Most cases of HPV clear within 1 to 2 years as the immune system fights off and eliminates the virus from the body. After that, the virus disappears and it can’t be transmitted to other people. In extreme cases, HPV may lay dormant in the body for many years or even decades.
What happens if HPV goes untreated?
In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area.
What part of the body does HPV affect?
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. More than 40 HPV types can infect the genital areas of men and women, including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), and anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, and rectum.
Can you get rid of HPV once you have it?
There is currently no cure for an existing HPV infection, but for most people it would be cleared by their own immune system and there are treatments available for the symptoms it can cause. You can also get the HPV vaccine to protect yourself against new infections of HPV which can cause genital warts or cancer.
Can HPV Make You Sick?
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. There is no treatment for HPV. For most individuals, HPV infection is harmless, has no symptoms, and goes away on its own. Some types of HPV can cause illnesses, such as anogenital warts or different types of cancer.
How common are HPV infections and what complications do the infections cause?
HPV infections are very common. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives. More than 42 million Americans are currently infected with HPV types that cause disease. About 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year.