HPV: From Symptoms to WHO's Global Strategy

Many people infected with HPV never develop genital warts, but when they do appear, it's usually several months after being infected with the virus, though they can also manifest years later. Most HPV infections in men and women are asymptomatic, but they can lead to long-term consequences and mortality. However, even in the absence of warts, HPV can remain active in a person's body and reappear. Often, certain types of HPV are classified as "non-oncogenic" (causing warts) or "oncogenic" (causing cancer), based on the risk they pose of developing cancer. Cases of cancers in different locations in men and women, caused by HPV, are increasingly being diagnosed. It is estimated that approximately 8 out of 10 sexually active people will become infected with HPV one or more times in their lifetime. The duration of genital warts varies from person to person. In general, HPV is believed to be the cause of close to 90% of cases of anal cancer, cervical cancer, and others. Nearly one in three men worldwide is infected with at least one type of HPV, and approximately one in five men has one or more high-risk types of HPV. Sometimes, the immune system clears the warts within a few months. Most of the time, genital warts do not cause pain, but some people with warts experience itching, bleeding, burning, or pain. The two most important measures you can take to prevent cervical cancer are to get vaccinated against HPV if you are eligible, and to get routine screening tests as recommended by the American Cancer Society. They are generally seen as bumps or groups of small bumps in the genital area; these can be small or large, flat or raised, or have a cauliflower-like shape. Some infections with the Human Papillomavirus can cause the appearance of small, rough bumps (genital warts) in areas such as the vagina, penis, or anus. These may disappear, stay the same, or increase in size or number. As it is a common virus that usually spreads from person to person through skin-to-skin contact. A study published in 2023 in The Lancet journal estimates that the prevalence of HPV is high in men over 15. To advance the goal of eliminating cervical cancer worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a comprehensive strategy based on three key pillars: vaccination, screening, and appropriate treatment of precancerous lesions.