There are more than one hundred strains of HPV. It is an infection. It comes from skin to skin contact. Wearing a condom (male or female condom). There are various strains of this disease - over 100. At least five of the strains cause genital warts to appear in both men and women. There are two strains that cause skin lesions which can lead to skin cancer (in both men and women) they appear on the hands and feet but could appear on other parts of the body.
Other strains of HPV about 11 of them - result in carcinomas - and if left untreated can lead to cancer in areas like the vagina, penis, anus, mouth, throat, and cervix. This is in addition to the two strains that most people hear about that can lead to cervical cancer. Getting regular pap smears is very important.
As for how many people have it, stats vary. Upwards of 80 percent (qualified by the words sexually active - but frankly why the qualifier when it is an infection that can be spread via skin contact - that would mean anyone is susceptible to at least one strain) of people in the U.S. and 90 percent in Europe are said to have experienced one or more strains of HPV over their lifetime.
Doctors will tell you that in general terms, (making sure to monitor any suspicious cells etc. - keep in contact with a health care professional) HPV, like the flu will clear itself up within a two year window. Also HPV is a virus that can remain dormant. You can catch a strain and it will not appear on tests or anything else for years and then suddenly, there it is.
One other point, if you catch one of the strains, you are not immune from catching any of the others. Same goes for the vaccinations - they only cover certain types of the HPV strains.
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There are more than one hundred strains of HPV. It is an infection. It comes from skin to skin contact. Wearing a condom (male or female condom). There are various strains of this disease - over 100. At least five of the strains cause genital warts to appear in both men and women. There are two strains that cause skin lesions which can lead to skin cancer (in both men and women) they appear on the hands and feet but could appear on other parts of the body.
February 10, 2013 - 6:28pmOther strains of HPV about 11 of them - result in carcinomas - and if left untreated can lead to cancer in areas like the vagina, penis, anus, mouth, throat, and cervix. This is in addition to the two strains that most people hear about that can lead to cervical cancer. Getting regular pap smears is very important.
As for how many people have it, stats vary. Upwards of 80 percent (qualified by the words sexually active - but frankly why the qualifier when it is an infection that can be spread via skin contact - that would mean anyone is susceptible to at least one strain) of people in the U.S. and 90 percent in Europe are said to have experienced one or more strains of HPV over their lifetime.
Doctors will tell you that in general terms, (making sure to monitor any suspicious cells etc. - keep in contact with a health care professional) HPV, like the flu will clear itself up within a two year window. Also HPV is a virus that can remain dormant. You can catch a strain and it will not appear on tests or anything else for years and then suddenly, there it is.
One other point, if you catch one of the strains, you are not immune from catching any of the others. Same goes for the vaccinations - they only cover certain types of the HPV strains.
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