Human papillomavirus is a virus of which there are about 100 known types. Of these, about 40 affect the genital and anal epithelium, of which about 15 are considered high risk. It is an easily sexually transmitted virus, even in skin-to-skin contact. Penetration is not essential for transmission and, therefore, condoms do not fully protect the sexual partner.
Several factors contribute to persistent infection: smoking, immune system disorders, high number of pregnancies or prolonged use of oral contraceptives. In addition, infection with one or more oncogenic types of HPV has been shown to be a necessary cause for the development of cervical cancer. The population most prone to suffer from this pathology is the adolescent or those who have had multiple sexual partners. Up to 75% of women have been in contact with the virus at some point in their lives, but the majority of the population manages to eliminate the infection asymptomatically or subclinically.
The human papillomavirus does not usually present any symptoms, but occasionally warts may appear in the genital or perianal area. If a wart is excised, it would be advisable to proceed to its analysis by biopsy to rule it out. This makes it advisable to have a regular gynecological check-up and a cervicovaginal cytology and, in case of doubt, the determination of the virus in the vagina using PCR techniques by simply collecting a sample of vaginal secretion in a very simple and painless way. Its detection makes it possible to establish a follow-up plan by means of periodic cytology and, if necessary, biopsies, colposcopy and other diagnostic techniques.
The most advisable way to avoid the appearance of this virus is to participate in the population vaccination program that all the autonomous communities have available for the school-age population, although recent research shows that there is no age limit for administering the vaccine, and even infected patients or those at an initial level of precancerous lesions can benefit from it.
Cutaneous, vaginal or superficial lesions can be treated with specific ointments or creams, some based on podophyllin or green tea tree extracts or other pharmacological preparations. If these fail, they can be destroyed, but it would be better to perform an excision and biopsy analysis. In those cases in which the infection persists and becomes an intracellular process, it is advisable to consult a gynecologist, urologist or dermatologist for follow-up and possible surgical treatment to prevent the development of cancerous disease.