Human papillomavirus: what is it and how is it treated?

HPV or human papillomavirus infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is generally harmless, but some types can cause cancer or genital warts. The virus spreads through intimate skin-to-skin contact in the genital area and can affect both men and women. Condoms offer partial, but not complete, protection against HPV because they do not cover all of the skin in the genital area. You can also be exposed to HPV from your first sexual activity or from just one sexual partner.

The strains of HPV that cause warts are generally harmless. HPV strains 6 and 11 most often cause genital warts. All warts are caused by HPV, but not all forms of HPV cause warts. Strains of HPV that can develop into cancer do not cause warts. Some strains of HPV (most commonly strains 16 and 18) can cause changes in the cells of the cervix, a condition called cervical dysplasia. If left untreated, cervical dysplasia can sometimes progress to cervical cancer.

Hold back! It is important to have Babes Pap smears regularly as a screening method for cervical cancer. However, it is important to remember that the presence of HPV (human papilloma virus) or cervical dysplasia does not necessarily mean that you will develop cancer. An HPV test can also be performed to identify any strains of HPV present. Unlike this test, the Babes Pap test identifies some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, but it is not a test itself for cancer or HPV.

Treatment of human papillomavirus

What is the treatment for HPV? There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause. Treatments such as electrosurgical excision, electrocautery, topical treatments, etc. can be used for warts. Keep in mind that treatments may remove warts, but the virus remains in the body and remains transmissible.

If your Pap test has an abnormal result, your gynecologist does a procedure called colposcopy to examine your cervix and take samples (biopsy) from any areas that look abnormal. Any precancerous lesions must be removed. Options include cryosurgery, laser, surgical removal, etc.

Human papillomavirus – treatment for immunity

Another approach focuses on supporting the immune system to fight the virus . It may be a way to support the body's natural defenses so that it has a better chance of suppressing the virus. People with stronger immune systems are more likely to overcome HPV or any other infection. In addition to natural methods of supporting immunity (healthy eating, exercise, stress management), a variety of medications or supplements to strengthen the immune system may also be helpful, both for HPV in women and for HPV in men. men. An example is Hupavir , made from milk casein, niacin, vitamin A, zinc and folic acid. It promotes immunity and is suitable for both women and men. It can help minimize the lesions and symptoms caused by HPV and also supports immunity.

How can we protect ourselves from the human papillomavirus?

We all know that it's easier to be safe than sorry. To reduce the risk of HPV infection, the following is recommended:

• HPV vaccination;
• Protective measures regarding sexual acts: use barrier contraceptive measures such as condoms, limit the number of sexual partners and avoid sexual intercourse with people infected with HPV or who have symptoms such as genital warts.

It is important to have regular routine gynecological checkups and follow recommendations for cervical cancer screening. Early detection of HPV and abnormal cells can prevent cervical cancer.

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The article Human papillomavirus: what is it and how is it treated? comes from Economic Scenarios .

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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/papillomavirus-umano-cose-e-come-si-cura/ on Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:01:40 +0000.