What is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection?
There are more than 150 strains of HPV viruses.
HPV infections can cause:
- cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women;
- cancers of the penis in men; and
- cancers of the anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men.
The group of HPV that may cause cancer is generally referred to as high-risk HPV group. In many cases, it takes decades after the initial infection with the high-risk HPV group before cancer develops and mentioned previously, most people do not know that they have been infected as there are usually no symptoms.
Purpose of the test
The purpose of an HPV test is to detect an infection with a high-risk strain of HPV. An HPV test may be performed in several situations:
Cervical cancer screening:
Tests look for cancer/precancerous conditions before symptoms arise; early detection is easier to treat. Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and testing allows patients infected with high-risk HPVs to be monitored effectively and to have abnormal cervical cells removed before they are cancerous. Anyone with a cervix, including women and transgender men, can be screened.
Tests look for cancer/precancerous conditions before symptoms arise; early detection is easier to treat. Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and testing allows patients infected with high-risk HPVs to be monitored effectively and to have abnormal cervical cells removed before they are cancerous. Anyone with a cervix, including women and transgender men, can be screened.
Follow-up:
An HPV test may be used as a follow-up test after an abnormal Pap smear.
An HPV test may be used as a follow-up test after an abnormal Pap smear.
Oropharyngeal cancer treatment planning:
This type of cancer begins in the tonsils or back of the throat. HPV causes the majority of oropharyngeal cancers. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers may be treated differently than HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers, so HPV testing is an important part of treatment planning.
This type of cancer begins in the tonsils or back of the throat. HPV causes the majority of oropharyngeal cancers. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers may be treated differently than HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers, so HPV testing is an important part of treatment planning.
HPV infections can cause several other types of cancer, including cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, and vulva. However, HPV testing on these parts of the body is uncommon and is typically only performed for research purposes.
