The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can effect anybody, whether male or female. The HPV Virus is highly contagious and easily spread. Commonly it causes warts, which are often found on the hands or feet, and there is also the strain of HPV that causes genital warts.
Common warts
It is easy to unknowingly pick up the virus on your hands or feet, particularly from shared surfaces, like public showers or toilets. This is why when using a public shower it is good to wear thongs or some sort of shoe in the shower. They are local growths and often someone will get them in just one area of the body, for example they may have a wart on their hand but no where else, and even though they are highly contagious no one else in the family may catch them. Most common are warts that are domed shaped, and found on the backs of fingers and toes, or Plantar warts which are usually on the bottom of the foot. These common warts can be treated by your doctor or you can buy products over the counter at the pharmacy. Doctors will often use the freezing method, where they will use liquid nitrogen.
Genital warts
Genital warts are caused by a more serious strain of HPV and people can be a carrier of the disease without showing any symptoms. It can, in fact, stay within the body for years without any actual warts or lesions appearing. You may be tested and show that you carry the virus, then be tested months or years later to come up with a negative result, only to be tested again at a later stage and have a positive result. Once they do appear you can be treated but the virus itself does not go away and you may find that the lesions keep appearing. There are over 40 different types of genital warts and some are linked with the development of pre cancers in both men and women. Primarily these warts are transmitted through sexual contact and are highly contagious. It is now considered to be the most common sexually transmitted disease. The lesions themselves can be removed, either via the application of medications or even surgery if the case is extreme, but this will not get rid of the infection.
Women
For women the contraction of the HPV virus can put her at risk of later developing cervical cancer. It is has been found that about 70% of cervical cancers are a result of the HPV virus, which generally was contracted many years earlier. Regular Pap Smears and screening for precancerous cells is wise as the earlier cervical cancers or any changes or detected, the higher the success rate of treatment.
Men
Men are not immune to the infection either and can be a carrier and easily infect their partner. It is also thought that some penile cancers are related to HPV. To help stop the spread of HPV it is highly recommended that both men and women practice safe sex.