ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Human papillomavirus (HPV)

What is human papillomavirus (hpv)?

6 April 2022

Infection by this virus is very common, a high percentage of sexually active people have it. There are more than 200 strains of HPV, which are usually the cause of warts in different parts of the body, especially in the genital area, and in some cases, it can cause different kinds of cancer, especially in the cervix.

Typically, HPV is spread through sex or through small wounds or cuts on the skin that come into contact with warts or objects that have been touched by them.

During pregnancy, if the mother has HPV, the child is likely to be infected as well and, in some cases, may develop benign lesions in the larynx.

Potential risks:

  • Promiscuity.
  • Visit places with contagion risk such as public bathrooms, swimming pools, and gyms, among others.
  • Low immune system.
  • Chapped and dry skin, which easily develops wounds and abrasions.

On many occasions, the body’s immune defenses do not allow wart growth when there is HPV, but when they do arise, it is advisable to consult your doctor to avoid future complications.

Diagnosis and treatment Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Testing for warts is the primary method of diagnosing possible HPV infection, but if the warts are not visible, your doctor will order a pap smear and a DNA test. 

Warts are often removed naturally without any treatment, but when this does not occur, warts can be removed with laser, freezing, cauterization, or surgery. 

Currently there is already a vaccine against HPV, which allows us to prevent a possible infection by this highly contagious virus.

At ABC Medical Center we have a team of experts in the various branches of gynecology ready to serve you with world-class quality and safety standards, as well as the humane treatment and warmth that characterizes us. Come to us and you will receive the best care available in Mexico and Latin America.

We are pioneers in gynecologic laparoscopy, which allows us to offer you the best treatment options, with shorter hospitalization times, as well as a faster and less painful recovery, taking care of the aesthetic aspect with smaller scars than open surgeries. We offer you robot-assisted gynecologic surgeries, being an even less invasive and more precise procedure that provides benefits such as:

20% of the total robot surgeries of ABC Medical Center correspond to this specialty, which places us as a cutting-edge institution with vast experience and leadership in the field for the benefit of our patients.

Related centers and departments Human papillomavirus (HPV)

High Specialty Surgery Center
Ob-Gyn and Pediatrics Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes

  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • cdc.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Soto-Fuenzalida GA, Hernández-Hernández JA, López-Sánchez RC, et al. Tipificación de serotipos del virus del papiloma humano de alto riesgo. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2020;88(10):659-666.
  • Fernández GI, Cristóbal I, Neyro JL. Vacunas terapéuticas del virus del papiloma humano: revisión de la evidencia actual. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2020;88(09):615-624.
  • Carrión OJI, Soto BY, Pupo AM. Infección por virus del papiloma humano en mujeres del Cantón Cañar, Ecuador. Rev Cubana Med Trop. 2020;72(1):1-20.

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    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.