HPV Specialist

Mott Women Healthcare

OB-GYN located in Lower Manhattan, New York

About 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, making it the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. The expert OB/GYN team at New York City’s Mott Women Healthcare screens for HPV and treats potential complications, such as genital warts. To learn more about HPV, call or book an appointment online today.

607-792-1041

HPV Q & A

What is HPV?

There are over 150 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Infection with some strains of HPV may cause warts to appear on your hands, feet, or mucous membranes. Other types of HPV can lead to more serious problems, such as cancer.

HPV spreads through direct skin contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can get HPV from an infected person even if they don’t have any signs or symptoms. In some cases, HPV symptoms may not appear until several years after you become infected.

What health problems does HPV cause?

Most cases of HPV go away on their own and don’t cause health problems. However, certain strains of HPV can lead to serious problems, such as:

Genital warts
Cervical cancer
Vaginal cancer
Anal cancer
Mouth or throat cancer

Genital warts appear as bump or lesions on the vulva, vagina, cervix, or anus. These warts rarely become cancerous, but they can be itchy and irritating.

How do I know if I have HPV?

Most people who have HPV don’t know they’re infected and never develop symptoms. This disease is so common, especially among young adults under age 30, that almost every sexually active person gets HPV at some point.

For women over age 30, the team at Mott Women Healthcare includes HPV testing during your routine Pap test to screen for cervical cancer.

How do you treat HPV and related health problems?

There’s no treatment for the HPV virus itself. However, the team at Mott Women Healthcare treats the health conditions HPV may cause, such as cervical precancer and genital warts.

If results from your Pap test are abnormal, your provider at Mott Women Healthcare may recommend additional tests and procedures, such as colposcopy to determine whether there are precancerous growths on your cervix.

For genital warts, the team at Mott Women Healthcare may prescribe medication to get rid of the warts.

How can I prevent HPV?

The team at Mott Women Healthcare counsels you on the best ways to protect yourself from HPV and its related health problems. HPV prevention techniques may include:

Getting an HPV vaccine if you’re under 24
Using a latex condom during sex
Scheduling routine gynecological exams

For more information about HPV testing, treatment, and prevention, call Mott Women Healthcare or book an appointment online today.

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