The Truth about HPV
What HPV is and How It’s Spread Now you may be thinking…what in the world is HPV? Until a few years ago, I had no idea either. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is transmitted through genital skin-to-skin contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is the most common STI in the United States and the population most at risk to get HPV are people in their late teens to mid-twenties. The Details Since HPV is a virus, there is no cure. In most cases, a healthy immune system can help fend off the virus so it can clear the body on its own. People infected with HPV can transmit it to their partner(s) even if they don’t have any symptoms. There are 40 types of HPV that are sexually transmitted. Symptoms of HPV include genital warts or genital cancers. Warts don’t cause cancer. They appear flat or raised in the genital area and may itch, but usually not painful. Treatment includes freezing them ...