SAMPLE. Living with HPV. What You Can Do. What Is HPV?

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2 Living with HPV If you have HPV (human papillomavirus), you re not alone. Millions of people carry this virus. Many don t even know it. Fortunately, by making some healthy choices, you can lower your chances of an outbreak. And you can learn to protect others. Reading this booklet can help. You re not alone. HPV is a fact of life for may people. What You Can Do You can take control of your health. Start by learning about HPV and its treatments. Take good care of your body so your immune system can defend against HPV. And learn how to protect others. HPV spreads through direct contact with the virus. By using condoms and other barriers during intimacy, you can help limit the spread of HPV. What Is HPV? HPV is a virus that causes warts. It can be hard to detect, so many people never even know they have it. Some types (strains) of HPV cause warts on the hands. These cases are harmless. Other types of HPV cause warts in the genital area. A few strains can lead to cancer in the cervix (where the uterus and vagina meet) and the genitals. Treating these high-risk forms of HPV now can help prevent serious health problems in the future. 2 This booklet is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem. 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011 Krames StayWell, LLC All rights reserved. Made in the USA.

3 Understanding HPV Everyone with HPV has a different experience. Some people notice genital warts (condyloma) within a few months of exposure. In others, warts take years to appear or may never appear. This makes it almost impossible to know when or by whom you were infected. How Warts Form HPV lives inside skin and mucous membrane. The virus can make skin cells reproduce more often than they should. These extra skin cells build up into warts. 1 HPV invades the skin. 4 The virus sheds, enabling it to be passed to others. 2 DNA 3 HPV causes infected skin cells to multiply and form warts. from the virus enters skin cells. 3

4 4 Your Exam Diagnosing HPV HPV may be found because warts are present. Or, a woman may receive an abnormal Pap test result. If you think you have genital warts, show your healthcare provider where they are. To confirm the diagnosis, he or she will ask about your health and perform an exam. Your Health History Your healthcare provider may ask questions to find out if you have been exposed to HPV. You may be asked if you are sexually active and if you have had genital warts before. Tell your healthcare provider if you felt itching or burning in the area where the warts were found. You may also be asked about symptoms of other common infections. During your exam, your doctor may do some of the following: acetowhite test makes warts easier to see. White vinegar is applied to skin that may be affected. If warts are present, they turn white. This test may also be done on a woman s cervix. colposcope, a magnifying device, may be used to see warts inside the vagina. A similar device may be used to see inside the penis or anus. A scope can also magnify warts on the surface of the skin. Pap test can show abnormal changes (dysplasia) in the cells of the cervix. If ignored, such changes sometimes progress to cervical cancer. A similar test can be done with cells from the anus of both men and women. cell sample may be screened to find low- or high-risk forms of the virus. A high-risk type of HPV is more likely than others to lead to cancer. Other tests may be done to look for infections that are commonly spread through sexual activity. What Warts Look Like Genital warts can appear alone or in groups. They may feel like firm bumps and may look like a rash. They re dry to the touch. A man s warts may look different from a woman s. Genital warts may be domeshaped or have ridges (like tiny cauliflowers). Warts on skin look slightly different from warts on mucous membrane. Genital warts can also be flat or slightly raised. These are nearly invisible. Inside the body, HPV stays in the skin or mucous membrane. The virus can be passed to other people even if no warts are present.

5 Dealing with HPV Finding out you have HPV may be upsetting for you and your partner. But learning about HPV and its treatments can make you both feel better. Then you can go on with your lives together. Talking to Your Partner When you re ready, talk to your partner. Pick a quiet place where you won t be interrupted. Keep in mind: calm. Remember, HPV can take months or years to produce warts. It s nearly impossible to know who was infected first. Try not to blame each other. no warts are present, visiting a healthcare provider may make your partner feel better. safest to use a latex condom every time. But know that condoms and other barriers protect only the skin they cover. Warts are contagious, so avoid touching them. (This includes oral sex.) currently using condoms, discuss whether you want to change your habits. Remember that condoms are the only effective way to protect against many diseases. Accepting Your Diagnosis At first, it may be hard to respond to what you ve learned. Take time to let everything sink in. Here are some things to think about: How your body looks. Remember that genital warts can be removed. You may feel better if you share any concerns about your body with your partner. Long-term health issues. Some strains of HPV are linked with cervical and other cancers. But most people with HPV do not develop cancer. Taking care of yourself and seeing your healthcare provider as directed reduces the risk even more. In most cases, the body overcomes the virus and there are no lasting health problems. Protecting your partner. Being honest about HPV will protect your partner s health. You and your partner can take steps to keep HPV from spreading. If you re with someone new, talk about HPV before you have sex. 5

6 Treating Genital Warts Sometimes warts go away on their own. Or, your healthcare provider may recommend having them treated. Depending on where the warts are, some treatments may work better than others. 6 Removing Warts Warts can be removed in a number of ways. These include freezing, cautery (heat), laser removal, and surgery. These procedures are done by your regular doctor or a specialist. Before treatment, you may receive local anesthesia to numb the area. The number of treatments depends on how many warts are being removed. A healthcare provider can give you more details. Applying Medications Prescription creams and gels can be applied to warts and surrounding skin. Some prompt your immune system to rally against HPV. Others are caustic agents that destroy warts. Medications can be applied at the doctor s office or at home. Often, more than one dose is needed. These treatments sometimes cause skin rashes, so ask about side effects. Warts may be removed using a heated wire loop. Medications can be applied to break warts apart. HPV Vaccine Both women and men can be protected against certain types of HPV infection that cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Ask your healthcare provider if getting vaccinated makes sense for you. Even if you have HPV, being vaccinated could help protect you from getting infections from other HPV types in the future. This is true for your partner as well.

7 Taking Care of Yourself By taking care of yourself, you can help your body fight against HPV. Regular visits with your healthcare provider, a healthy immune system, and being aware of risks help you stay in control. Visit Your Healthcare Provider You may need to try a few treatments before you find the one that works best. a mirror to perform self-exams between visits. See your healthcare provider right away if you notice any new warts. of cervical cancer, have a Pap test as often as your healthcare provider suggests. Doing so helps ensure that any dysplasia is found early, when treatment works best. Make Healthy Choices Eat a nutritious diet. Foods high in beta-carotene (such as tomatoes, squash, and collard greens) help prevent cervical and other cancers. So do foods high in folic acid (such as whole grains, beans, and broccoli). Get plenty of sleep each night. When you re well rested, your immune system is better equipped to fight HPV. Quit smoking. Smoking weakens the immune system. Consider Your Needs Pregnant women shouldn t use certain treatments for genital warts. Your healthcare provider can tell you which ones are safe. If you become pregnant, make sure your doctor knows that you have HPV. you. Patients with lowered immune systems may have more problems with HPV. You may also not respond as well to treatment. Your healthcare provider can help find the best treatment plan for 7

8 You re Not Alone Millions of people are living just fine with HPV. To learn more or to find a support group near you, the following resources may be helpful: National HPV & Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center National STD Hotline Consultant: Ricki Pollycove, MD, OB/GYN With contributions by: Erma Benitez, MD, Dermatology Lybia E. Burgos, CRNPC, Colposcopy Jeffery S. Cox, PhD, Microbiology Kim S. Erlich, MD, Infectious Diseases Judith Leger, Women s Health Nurse Practitioner Deborah C. Manus, MD, Family Practice Galen M. Meyer, MD, FACS, Urology Empower Yourself Successful management of HPV starts with you. This virus doesn t have to keep you from living a healthy life. Learn how to protect yourself and your partner. And make healthy choices to help your immune system resist this virus. That way, you can focus on the things that matter to you