Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). The virus often attacks the skin and mucous membranes. HPV infects the genital areas of both men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva, and anus, linings of the vagina, cervix and rectum. One may never know who is infected with HPV. It is hard to detect the infection. Those who are already infected with barely know that they have been infected unless they take the STD test.

Most of the time, HPV do not show symptoms. But since it causes genital warts, the symptoms of the warts are the ones noticed. There are health complications that may happen if the infection is not treated such as cervical cancer and other less common cancers, such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis.

HPV has two types; the high risk and low risk. The low risk infections are the ones that usually cause genital warts while the high risk ones are the cancer-causing infection.
Genital warts show small bumps that usually appear in the genital area. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person. Cervical cancer, unless advanced cases, will not show any symptoms. It will only be detected through Pap smear or other reproductive health screenings.

Genital HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, often during vaginal or anal sex. A pregnant woman may pass the infection to her baby at childbirth. The baby may then experience several health complications.

Today, there is a vaccine given to females aging from 11 – 26 to protect them from HPV infection. For those who choose to be sexually active, condoms may lower the risk of HPV, if used all the time and the right way. Condoms may also lower the risk of developing HPV-related diseases, such as genital warts and cervical cancer. However, condoms may not be 100 percent sure of securing one of all STDs around. So the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity. One may also lower their risk of becoming infected by practicing monogamy. Changing or having multiple sex partners can put one at risk to being infected with HPV.

Women may also be protected by having a regular reproductive health screening. This is to detect health abnormalities that may cause cervical cancer. Another way is to take an STD test. This is to confirm if one is infected with STD or not. One may go to a hospital or local health center for a local STD testing. Or one may visit an STD testing clinic for testing, screening, counseling and treatment. Once a disease is detected, the patient may immediately have a treatment. Some STDs may be cured with antibiotics and completely eliminate the disease from one’s body. Treatment may depend on the disease and its intensity when detected.

Treating STD is not an easy matter to deal with. Often times, patients get too frustrated with their situation. This is where counseling becomes a treatment tool.