Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

The Type: Viral

How its Transmitted: Vaginal, anal or oral sex.

The Symptoms: Painless fleshy, cauliflower-like warts develop on and inside the genitals, anus and throat.

The Treatment: There is no known cure. Warts can be suppressed by chemicals, freezing, laser therapy and surgery.

The Possible Consequences for the Infected person: HPV is the virus that causes genital warts. The some strains of the virus are strongly associated with cervical cancer as well as cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis and anus. In fact, HPV is the cause of more than 90 percent of all cervical cancer, which kills about 5,000 American women every year.

The Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Infants exposed to the virus in the birth canal can develop warts in the throat which can obstruct the airway and must be removed.

How to Prevent: Abstaining from vaginal, anal and oral sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of prevention. Condoms provide almost no protection against contracting the disease during sex.

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Service, Rockville, MD 20857; The Upjohn Company; Contraceptive Technology by R. Hatcher et al, Chapter 4, 16th Revised Ed., 1994; Medical Institute for Sexual Health, P. O. Box 4919, Austin, TX, 78765; MedicineNet.com; Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Other risks Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, Herpes, HIV/AIDS, Human Papalloma Virus, Syphilis and Trichomoniasis