Brief History and Advancement of Contraceptive Technology | OAJC
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Of The Mouth: What You Should Know
Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) occurs when this virus enters a cut or opening in your mouth. Diagnosis is done through a physical exam. Treatment may include removal of the warts, either through surgery or cryotherapy.
Most sexually active people will contract human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lifetime. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. More than 100 types of HPV exist, and more than 40 subtypes of HPV can affect the genital area and throat.
HPV spreads by skin-to-skin contact. Most people contract HPV in their genital area through sexual intercourse. If you engage in oral sex, you may contract it in your mouth or throat. This is most commonly known as oral HPV.
Oral HPV often has no symptoms. This means that people don't realize they have an infection and are less likely to take the steps necessary to limit the spread of the disease. It's possible to develop warts in the mouth or throat in certain cases, but this is less common.
This type of HPV can turn into oropharyngeal cancer, which is rare. If you have oropharyngeal cancer, cancer cells form in the middle of the throat, including the tongue, tonsils, and pharynx walls. These cells can develop from oral HPV. Early symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer include:
If you notice any of these symptoms and you know or think you may have HPV, make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
Oral HPV occurs when a virus enters the body, usually through a cut or small tear inside of the mouth. People often get it through having oral sex. More research is necessary to determine exactly how people get and pass on oral HPV infections.
Approximately 79 million Americans currently have HPV, and 14 million people will be newly diagnosed this year alone.
Approximately 7 percent of Americans ages 14 to 69 have oral HPV. The number of people who have oral HPV has increased over the past three decades. It's more common in men than in women.
Approximately two-thirds of oropharyngeal cancers have HPV DNA in them. The most frequent subtype of oral HPV is HPV-16. HPV-16 is considered a high-risk type.
Oropharyngeal cancer is rare. Approximately 1 percent of people have HPV-16. Less than 15,000 people get HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers each year.
Risk factors for oral HPV include the following:
Age is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. It's more common in older adults because it takes years to develop.
No test is available to determine if you have HPV of the mouth. Your dentist or doctor may discover lesions through a cancer screening, or you may notice the lesions first and make an appointment.
If you have lesions, your doctor can perform a biopsy to see if the lesions are cancerous. They'll probably also test the biopsy samples for HPV. If HPV is present, the cancer may be more responsive to treatment.
Most types of oral HPV go away before they cause any health issues. If you develop oral warts due to HPV, your doctor will likely remove the warts.
Treating the warts with topical treatments can be difficult because the warts may be hard to reach. Your doctor may use any of the following methods to treat the warts:
If you do develop oropharyngeal cancer, treatment options are available. Your treatment and prognosis depend on the stage and location of your cancer and whether or not it's associated with HPV.
HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers have better outcomes and fewer relapses after treatment than HPV-negative cancers. Treatment for oropharyngeal cancer can include radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of these.
Most medical and dental organizations don't recommend screening for oral HPV. Lifestyle changes are some of the easiest ways to help prevent HPV. Here are some tips for prevention:
Vaccination against HPV involves getting two shots spaced six to 12 months apart if you're between the ages of nine and 14. People aged 15 and over get three shots over six months. You'll need to get all of your shots for the vaccine to be effective.
The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that can protect you from HPV-related diseases.
This vaccine was previously only available to people up until age 26. New guidelines now state people between the ages of 27 and 45 who have not been previously vaccinated for HPV are now eligible for the vaccine Gardasil 9.
In a 2017 study, oral HPV infections were said to be 88 percent lower among young adults who received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. These vaccines help prevent oropharyngeal cancers linked to HPV.
Common Types Of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, exists in more than 100 different forms ranging from low-risk to high-risk. HPV 6 and HPV 11 are the both low-risk. Various vaccines are available to protect you against certain types.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), also referred to as sexually transmitted disease (STD).
HPV is the most common STI in the United States. Almost 80 million Americans currently have HPV. About 14 million contract the virus each year.
More than 100 types of HPV exist. Because some are likely to cause more complications than others, the types are categorized as low-risk and high-risk HPV.
Low-risk types can't cause cervical cancer and are treatable. High-risk types can cause abnormal cells to form on the cervix, which can develop into cancer if they're left untreated.
Keep reading to learn more about the most common types of HPV.
If you've contracted HPV, identifying the type you have helps your doctor determine next steps. Some types of HPV clear up without intervention. Other types may lead to cancer. Your doctor will monitor your condition so that if cancer cells do develop, they can be detected early.
HPV 6 and HPV 11HPV 6 and HPV 11 are low-risk types of HPV. They are linked to approximately 90 percent of genital warts. HPV 11 can also cause changes to the cervix.
Genital warts look like cauliflower-shaped bumps on your genitalia. They usually show up a few weeks or months after exposure from a sexual partner who has HPV.
Getting the HPV vaccine may help prevent HPV 6. The vaccine also offers some protection from HPV 11.
For the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9, clinical trials showed up to 89 to 99 percent effectiveness in protecting against HPV types 6 and 11. This significant reduction against contracting these types was noted in 9- to 26-year-olds.
The recommendation is to receive the vaccines prior to becoming sexually active, since the vaccine can't protect against a strain of HPV that a person has already been exposed to.
If you do contract HPV 6 or HPV 11, your doctor can prescribe medications such as imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) or podofilox (Condylox). These are topical medications that destroy genital wart tissue.
This local destruction of the wart tissue helps enhance your immune system's ability to fight the STI virus. You can apply these medications directly to your genital warts.
HPV 16 and HPV 18HPV 16 is the most common high-risk type of HPV and usually doesn't result in any noticeable symptoms, even though it can bring about cervical changes. It causes 50 percent of cervical cancers worldwide.
HPV 18 is another high-risk type of HPV. Like HPV 16, it doesn't typically cause symptoms, but it can lead to cervical cancer.
HPV 16 and HPV 18 are together responsible for approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancers worldwide.
The HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 can protect against a number of types of HPV, including HPV 16 and HPV 18.
HPV testing can be performed for women with a Pap test (commonly known as a Pap smear), which is a screening test for cervical cancer. HPV testing is only available for women, and it can determine if HPV is present. If present, the test can determine whether the HPV is a low- or a high-risk type.
The HPV test isn't recommended as routine screening for women under the age of 30. This is because many women will have some strain of HPV by that age. Most of these will clear spontaneously without intervention.
However, if a person's Pap test showed abnormal cells, the HPV test would be done to assess their risk of more serious conditions, including cervical cancer.
If your test shows you have HPV, it doesn't mean you'll develop cervical cancer. It does mean that you could develop cervical cancer in the future, especially if you have a high-risk type of HPV. Your doctor will review your results with you and discuss treatment or surveillance options.
As mentioned above, 80 million Americans have HPV right now, and 14 million new diagnoses are expected each year. This means almost anyone who is sexually active will get at least one type of HPV during their lifetime.
It's estimated that HPV will go away without treatment in 80 to 90 percent of people who contract the STI.
HPV infection is less common in women over the age of 30, but it's more likely to lead to cervical cancer. This is one of the reasons why it's important to see your gynecologist regularly.
Follow these tips to help prevent HPV:
Get the HPV vaccinationThe HPV vaccine involves two shots, separated by 6 to 12 months, for those ages 9 to 14 years.
For people ages 15 and over, three shots are given over six months.
People between the ages of 27 and 45 who haven't been previously vaccinated for HPV are now eligible for Gardasil 9.
Ask your doctor which vaccine they're giving youThe types of HPV the different vaccines protect against vary:
Since Gardasil 9 protects against a much wider spectrum of HPV strains without a noted increase in side effects or adverse reactions, this choice offers more protection against HPV.
Common side effects of the Gardasil 9 vaccine is irritation at the injection site, including pain, swelling, or redness. Some people may have a headache following the injection.
Other tipsAvoid sexual contact with a partner if genital warts are present.
Use latex condoms every time you engage in sexual intercourse. But keep in mind that HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact — not through exchange of bodily fluids. This means that while condoms may not always prevent the spread of HPV, they could reduce your risk.
If you're a woman, make an appointment with your gynecologist for a cervical cancer screening. You should start screening at age 21 and continue until you're 65.
HPV is very common. Most people with HPV don't know they have an infection and experience no symptoms.
If you have HPV, it doesn't mean you'll develop cervical cancer.
However, knowing that you have a high-risk type of HPV will help you and your doctor come up with a plan to reduce your risk for cervical cancer.
You can do your best to prevent HPV by getting tested for cervical cancer if you're a woman, and by keeping your vaccinations current.
Know the facts
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 13,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018.
What Does HPV Look Like In Your Mouth?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) can affect the inside of the mouth, the tongue, and the lips. Symptoms can include small, hard, growths. They may be slightly raised or flat, and they may be painless.
In most cases, the immune system clears human papillomavirus (HPV) from the body before it can cause a full infection and symptoms.
Some strains of HPV result in harmless oral lesions that usually resemble common warts, but doctors have linked some others with oral cancers.
Oral HPV spreads mostly through oral sex and mouth-to-mouth contact between people.
During mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-mouth contact, HPV particles in the saliva or mucus of someone with the virus enter someone without the infection through an open cut or sore in the mouth or throat.
During pregnancy, HPV can also pass to babies. In some cases, it may spread via oral contact with contaminated utensils or medical instruments.
The immune system usually destroys invading HPV particles before they cause disease. Healthy immune systems usually resolve HPV infections within 1–2 years. However, some HPV infections can persist.
The most significant risk factor for developing oral HPV is having oral sex or mouth-to-mouth contact with someone who has acquired an HPV infection.
Researchers are still trying to determine the full range of risk factors for oral HPV, but some known factors include:
The symptoms that the many different strains of HPV cause can vary slightly. Many people with minor cases of HPV do not have any apparent symptoms.
When it does cause a productive infection, HPV can cause growths that are:
HPV is the leading cause of oropharyngeal, or oral cavity, cancers, although this complication is rare. Cancer is most likely to result from infections that involve the tongue and base of the tongue into the throat.
The type of HPV called HPV 16 causes most oral cancers related to HPV.
Oral cancers tend to cause obvious symptoms, especially as they progress. Signs and symptoms of oral cancer include:
There is currently no easy way for a doctor to diagnose HPV. The most useful test for HPV is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
A PCR test takes a tiny fragment of the DNA that scientists have extracted from cells in a sample of mucus and amplifies it, making countless identical copies. Having so many copies of the DNA fragment allows scientists to look inside cells and detect minute quantities of abnormal or viral DNA.
In rare cases, when lesions are present in the mouth, a doctor may be able to diagnose HPV through an examination alone.
There is currently no treatment that can cure HPV or even reduce its growth.
Researchers have tried and tested a range of topical medications on HPV growths to no effect. Currently, surgical removal is the only way to treat HPV growths. Some doctors will also use cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen to freeze and remove the growths.
After a person receives a diagnosis, they will need to undergo testing for HPV every 8–12 months until the infection has cleared, or it is no longer possible to detect it in DNA samples.
One of the best ways for people to lower their risk of developing HPV is by getting vaccinated.
In the U.S., a vaccine called Gardasil 9 offers almost 100% protection against the strains of HPV associated with types of cancer — specifically, HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.
Currently, doctors recommend that people up to 45 years of age have the HPV vaccination.
Children usually receive two doses, at least 6 months apart, between the ages of 11 and 12 years. Adolescents who receive their first dose of the vaccine at the age of 15 years or older will require three doses.
Aside from getting vaccinated, people can also reduce their risk of contracting HPV by:
They can also increase the likelihood of early detection by:
Most people who get HPV do not develop symptoms and clear the virus naturally.
However, those who experience symptoms will require medical monitoring to ensure that their body eventually rids itself of the virus and that growths do not become cancerous.
People with HPV can take steps to reduce the chance of the virus spreading to another person. For example, they can use barrier methods during sexual activity and communicate openly with any sexual partners about STIs.
Comments
Post a Comment