HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of about 100 related viruses. Some types can cause skin warts while other types cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), some of which can lead to genital warts (also called condylomata). Common in young women and men, most HPV infections that are spread through oral, anal or genital sex are short-lived and relatively benign. There are, however, several types of HPV (such as HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-45) that are considered high-risk. They do not usually cause visible warts, but when they cause persistent infections, they have been linked to cervical cancer as well as other less common cancers, such as of the vagina, mouth, throat, penis, and anus. The HPV DNA test detects the genetic material of the high-risk types of HPV associated with cancer. Some of the genetic tests detect the types that are low-risk and cause warts, but they are generally not recommended for that purpose.

Genital HPV is one of the most common STDs in the world. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 million people in this country are infected with HPV and over 6 million become newly infected each year. At least 50% of sexually active women and men contract HPV at some point in their lives. While the types of HPV that cause genital warts can be diagnosed through visual inspection and therefore do not need to be tested for, the high-risk types that have been associated with cancer can be diagnosed with a HPV DNA test.

Persistent infections with certain types of HPV are now known to be the major risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 account for about 70% of cervical cancers in the U.S. In 2007, about 11,000 women in the U.S. were affected with cervical cancer and almost 4,000 died from it. In addition, some studies have also shown that persistent oral infections with high-risk types of HPV are strongly associated with oral cancers, including cancer of the mouth and throat. Anal cancer has also been linked to HPV types 16 and 18.

A sampling of cells is taken from the cervical area in females during a pelvic examination using a type of wooden "spatula," swab, or brush and, if HPV DNA testing is to be performed, placed into a special liquid preservative. HPV tests may also be ordered on male subjects. An anal swab or brush specimen is used for testing.

It is recommended that you do not douche or tub bath before the test, and you should reschedule if you are menstruating. You may be asked to empty your bladder before the examination. Some doctors may request that you refrain from sex for 24 to 48 hours before the test.