HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that can increase the risk for cervical cancer. HPV is a group of 200+ viruses that are usually transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity and can remain dormant in the body for many years. HPV is very common – according to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly all sexually active adults will get HPV at some point in their lives. Some HPV types cause warts (e.g., on your hands and feet), while others cause infection. Persistent HPV infections can lead to cancers of the cervix, genitals, anus, and throat.
Sexually transmitted HPV types are categorized into ‘low-risk’ and ‘high-risk.’ The HPV types that have the highest risk of causing cancer (high-risk HPV) are used to screen for cancer. Just like the clinician’s office, samples collected with the Teal Wand are tested for fourteen types of high-risk HPV using the FDA-approved Roche cobas® primary HPV test.
High-risk HPV that is untreated and progresses over many years is the cause of almost all cervical cancers. For 90% of people with HPV, the immune system will clear the infection without any treatment within 2 years. But in some cases (those remaining 10%), the HPV infection can persist. If it goes without follow-up care and remains untreated for many years, it can develop into precancers and cervical cancer.
To learn more, see our article, What is HPV?