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Causes of the Human Papilloma Virus

Overview

Human papilloma virus is a sexually-transmitted disease affecting over twenty million Americans. It is caused by viral particles which are transmitted during sexual activity. Most people with human papilloma virus, or HPV, do not realize they have the disease because they have no symptoms. HPV is easily spread to others through sexual contact, with millions of people getting infected without knowing.
Types

There are over forty strains of human papilloma virus which are classified into two types: low-risk for cancer and high-risk for cancer. Both types of HPV are caused by sexual activity with an HPV-positive person. There are no symptoms of high-risk HPV. Many people with low-risk HPV are also asymptomatic, although they may experience genital warts.

How HPV is Formed

Human papilloma virus is made of viral particles similar to that of other viruses. However, the particles in HPV only penetrate the skin and mucous membranes through microscopic abrasions in the genital area during sexual activity. After the body's cells are invaded with the virus, it can take up to six months for symptoms to appear in the form of genital warts, or no symptoms may be present at all. HPV continues to live in the body, although in about 90% of cases, the body will clear itself of the disease within two years.
How HPV is Spread

HPV is caused by sexual activity. If a person with HPV engages in sexual activity, his partner is at risk for contracting the disease. Although the use of condoms can decrease the risk for transmitting HPV, only the skin covered by the condom is protected. Therefore, the only way to prevent the spread of HPV is sexual abstinence.
Atypical Causes

In rare cases, a woman can pass HPV to her baby during a vaginal birth. The child may then develop warts in the throat or voice box, which is called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Also, trace amounts of HPV have been detected under fingernails, so it is possible to spread the disease through hand-to-genital contact. There are no reported cases of HPV being caused by handshaking or other non-sexual activity.
Causes of HPV Symptoms

Although high-risk HPV does not have symptoms, genital warts can be caused by low-risk HPV. Genital warts caused by HPV form because the virus turns normal cells in skin or mucus membranes to become abnormal. These cells then form warts which may be flat or raised, and either round or shaped like cauliflower. Genital warts caused by HPV may appear as a small bump or group of bumps. These symptoms of HPV are caused by sexual activity and continue to spread as long as the warts are present and up to several weeks afterward. New cases of HPV can be caused by sexual activity with a person who has an outbreak of genital warts.