Did you know that every day, more than one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur worldwide? Most of these infections do not display any symptoms. Since there are no symptoms, STIs such as HPV infections can go unnoticed. Moreover, a serious infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer if not treated. So let’s delve deeper into the blog and understand everything about HPV tests.
Understanding HPV Infection
Human Papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection spread through skin-to-skin contact. Many people infected with the Human Papillomavirus do not develop symptoms and may not even know they have an infection. But more than 90% of all new HPV infections will resolve on their own. However, some HPVs are persistent and can cause cervical cancer if left undiagnosed or untreated.
A Closer Look At HPV Types
HPV is a group of over 200 types of viruses. It can spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex. HPVs that can cause infections through sexual contact are classified into two categories: low-risk and high-risk.
Let’s talk about the 2 HPV Types.
| Low-Risk HPV Types | High-Risk HPV Types |
| Low-risk HPV infections normally do not lead to any serious health and are referred to as non-oncogenic. | High-risk HPVs have been linked to a variety of cancers and are commonly referred to as oncogenic. Some common types of cancers are cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer and throat cancer. |
| Low-risk HPV types 6 and 11 can cause warts near the genitals, anus, or throat.
This type of HPV is responsible for causing 90-95% genital warts. |
In all, there are 16 high-risk HPV types, of which the following have been identified: HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58 and 59.
High-risk HPVs are generally responsible for 15% of cervical cancers and 11% of all HPV-related cancers. |
| Infections with this type of HPV usually show up as warts and clear up on their own. | Infections of this type of HPV do not show any symptoms. |
Now that you understand the various types of HPV, it does become clear that this virus can be stealthy and often remains asymptomatic until it’s too late. This is especially true for cervical cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in women but is often not detected early. This type of cancer is mostly caused by high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 and can grow quietly without being noticed until it is more serious.
Knowing how HPV is connected to cervical cancer is very important for preventing it and detecting it early on. Now let’s take a closer look at cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer: An Overview
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer among women all over the world. In India it ranks as the second most common cancer amongst women aged between 15 and 44 years.
Cervical cancer often begins as an infection from the human papillomavirus that is often present in sexually active people. In most cases, such infections clear up over time and pose no risk to a person’s health. For others, infections may persist for many years and eventually develop into cervical cancer. It occurs in the cervix of a woman’s body which is present in the lower part of the uterus or the womb. Cervical cancer generally develops when the cells of the cervix begin to multiply and grow uncontrollably.
However, regular screening helps find an HPV infection early allowing for timely treatment.
Types Of HPV Test
- HPV test: It determines whether or not DNA of high-risk HPV types is present for cervical cancer and other cancers in your sample. Now, you can easily get tested for HPV from the comfort of your home with “HPV Test – Female”. The test detects 24 different types of high-risk HPVs which include the 3 main high-risk strains and 21 other high-risk strains by using RT-PCR and provides accurate and quick results.
- PAP test: A sample from a patient is collected and then checked for precancerous or cancerous cells. This is a test which requires a doctor’s visit.
- Acetic acid solution test: Flat lesions resulting from an infection of the human papillomavirus can be detected by the application of an acetic acid solution to it. Acetic acid makes these affected areas white.
Conclusion
As we conclude, it is clear that many sexually active people may indeed contract HPV without any traceable symptoms. However, detection at an earlier phase with regular check-ups could prevent further and more severe complications, such as cervical cancer.
So get ready to proactively monitor your health from the convenience of your home with LifeCell’s HPV Test – Female. For more information on how to take this test, visit www.lifecell.in.
