Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Genital Warts

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) a very common family of viruses. This group of viruses contains actually more than 100 different strains of HPV. Various HPV strains are capable of causing of both genital and non-genital warts.

Approximately 30 HPV strains can infect the genital area and can cause genital warts, also called Condyloma Acuminata. These 30 HPV strains can be further broken down to "high" and "low" risk viruses.

There are 13 known high risk HPV strains which may cause changes in women's cervical cells. These cellular changes may progress to cancer. The cellular changes caused by high risk HPV strains can be found with a Pap smear; thus annual Pap smear tests are important. Two of the high-risk strains of HPV numbered 16 and 18 are believed to cause about 70% of all cervical cancer cases in women.

Low risk strains sometimes can also cause changes in a Pap smear, but do not progress to cancer. Of the low-risk strains, two (6 &11) are most common HPV strains to cause genital warts both in men and women.