What is Human papillomavirus?

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a DNA virus from the papillomavirus family, classified by their types and with numbers according to their discovery. We know more than 100 types of HPV, and about 40 of them are connected with genital infections. The genital types of HPV are categorized according to their connection with cervix cancer:

- Low risk virus types - 6, 11, 42, 43, 44. Low-risk virus types are connected with low risk of development of cervix cancer. They are the reason for benign or low-risk cervical lesions, genital warts, or recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

– High risk types - 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66. They are connected with an extremely high risk of developing cancer. They are the reason for low-grade and high-grade cervical lesions and invasive cervical cancer.

The high-risk types are connected with cervical cancer development and are detected in 99.7% of the cases. The German virologist prof. Harald zur Hausen discovered the role of HPV for cancer of the cervix, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2008.

How is HPV transmitted?

The risk of HPV infection is very high; 80 % of all women get infected during their sexually active years. The primary way for transmission are sexual contacts, but a person can also infect through skin contact. The use of a condom reduces the risk of transmission but does not eliminate it.

What are the symptoms of HPV?

The HPV infection is most often without symptoms and does not harm any clinical problems. In 70% of the cases the body disposes HPV for one year, and in 90% of the cases handles for two years through a cell-mediated immunity reaction. The average duration of a new infection is eight months. Despite the healing, the primary HPV infection does not lead to stable immunity, so women are not prevented from another infection with the same or different HPV types. In 20% of the cases the infection does not end with spontaneous healing, but slowly evolve from low risk to high-risk cervical lesions and then cancer of the cervix. In untreated women, the period between the primary infection and the development of cervix cancer is prolonged, usually between 10 and 20 years. 

What are the risk groups and factors for HPV infection?

It is believed that the main risk is the high number of sexual partners, especially in the context of risky sexual behavior. Early onset of sexual intercourses, as well as the weakened immune system, smoking, and poor intimate hygiene, are also risk factors.

When is the HPV DNA test advisable?

An HPV DNA test can be recommended at a woman’s annual prophylactic Ob/Gyn screening. The test is advisable when PAP test results indicate possible HPV infection. The test is also required before vaccination to determine a patient’s health status according to HPV infection. After treatment, the medical specialist can also recommend control HPV DNA test.

How is the HPV DNA test performed?

The HPV DNA test sample is collected the same way as the PAP test. The test itself is a DNA analysis and allows the detection of virus DNA in the sample. The HPV test is recommended together with the PAP smear test because both are not interchangeable

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