HPV: How does it cause cancer in women?
Certain strains of the virus, like those that lead to vaginal, vulvar and cervical cancers, are considered high-risk.
Certain strains of the virus, like those that lead to vaginal, vulvar and cervical cancers, are considered high-risk.
Certain strains of the virus, like those that lead to vaginal, vulvar and cervical cancers, are considered high-risk.
HPV or the Human Papillomavirus, which affects different parts of our body, was recently a topic of discussion in Kerala’s online sphere. Renowned influencer and medical practitioner Dr Shimna Azeez stated that cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer–related deaths among women in India. In a post shared on her Facebook page, Dr Shimna also wrote that around a quarter of the cervical cancer cases that are reported across the world are in India, and shared the video of an awareness session in which she speaks about cervical cancer and its screening methods to the government school principals of an entire block in Bihar.
The doctor, who is also a surveillance medical officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), says that in some states of India, the lack of adequate facilities for disease detection, delays in early diagnosis and lack of proper treatment are significant challenges. However, it doesn’t mean that the entire country is equally affected or threatened by this disease. Let’s understand HPV and how it causes cancer in young women.
What is HPV?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are over 100 types of HPV. This includes those that cause warts on your face, hands and feet. About 30 of them can also affect our genital area, including the anus, rectum, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum and vulva. Most sexually active people, who are not vaccinated against the virus, can be infected by it and need not even know about it.
What is high-risk among them?
Certain strains of the virus, like those that lead to vaginal, vulvar and cervical cancers, are considered high-risk. Apparently, till the age of 30, most HPV infections clear on their own. However, once you cross the age, finding HPV during a pap smear test can only clarify how often you should check for it. From the age of 21, it is essential to get regular pap smears to check for cervical cancer, says the Cleveland Clinic.
HPV symptoms
1) Genital HPV does not need to cause symptoms, but sometimes it can cause warts in the genital area.
They are contagious; at times, they can be itchy and very uncomfortable.
2) High-risk HPV may not cause symptoms until it progresses to cancer.
3) Swelling in the legs
4) Weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue
5) Constant back, pelvis and leg pain
6) Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Why does it cause cancer in women
The virus causes the highest risk in women, and if left untreated, it can become cancerous. According to the World Health Organisation, persistent infection and weakened immune systems are major risk factors that result in the disease turning cancerous. Administering HPV vaccines to all girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active, should be a priority to contain the disease, says the WHO. While the vaccine is generally given in one or two doses, those with weak immune systems should receive two or three doses. Certain countries vaccinate boys too, to prevent HPV cancers in men.