Understanding the Link Between High-Risk HPV and Cervical Cancer 

Could you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that puts you at risk for cancer? It’s a bigger risk for sexually active adults than you might realize. Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) tops the list of common STDs among men and women in the United States. 

There are several types of HPV, some of which can cause warts on male and female genitals. And some types of HPV increase women’s risk of developing cervical cancer.

Experienced women’s health care provider Dr. Leonardo Longoria screens for cervical cancer with regular Pap smears. If cancerous changes are detected after your well-woman exam at Longoria OBGYN in El Paso, Texas, Dr. Longoria supports you in taking the next steps of your treatment. 

As we observe National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Longoria wants you to learn more about the connection between high-risk HPV and cervical cancer.

Understanding high-risk HPV

Your cervix, located at the top of your vaginal canal, can suffer from cancerous changes due to oncogenic, or cancer-causing, types of HPV. There are more than 40 types of HPV in circulation, so you could have HPV that’s low-risk or high-risk for cancer. 

Research from the International Agency for Research on Cancer shows that at least 13 types of HPV increase your risk of developing cervical cancer. The types of HPV that cause cancer are not the same types that result in warts.

HPV infections occur as a result of contact with an infected individual. Your partner might not know they have HPV, and you may not notice any visible signs of this STD. 

HPV can be transmitted through contact with interior and exterior tissues, including the skin of the penis, the lining of the vagina or rectum, and the skin around the vulva or anus. You may also experience HPV infection in the lining of your throat or mouth.

HPV and cervical cancer screenings

It’s important for you to know if you could have high-risk HPV so you can take the right steps to prevent cervical cancer or detect cell mutations early, when the cancer is most treatable. HPV causes an estimated 90% or more of the cases of cervical cancer and can cause cancer in other areas as well, including your anus, vagina, and vulva.

Most people infected with HPV aren’t aware they carry this STD. Often, your body’s immune response overcomes HPV within a year or two of infection. But, you could be a carrier for quite some time. If oncogenic HPV remains in your body for too long, cancerous changes may begin in your cervix or, more rarely, your vagina.

STD testing lets you know if you have HPV. To check for early signs of cervical cancer, Dr. Longoria uses a Pap smear to collect cervical cells for close examination in a lab. If abnormal cells are detected, we can often remove precancerous tissue before it has time to develop into full-blown cervical cancer.

If you have an HPV infection, you may need more frequent cervical cancer screenings. To learn more about your risks for cervical cancer, contact our Longoria OBGYN team today. Schedule your initial consultation appointment by calling our office or booking online today.