What is HPV (human papilloma virus)? Treatment?

*** The writer raises several good questions, which are still ***
*** unanswered. Any help will be greatly appreciated. ***

From: [email protected] (Loredich)
Subject: HPV and genital warts: a dossier
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 15 Dec 91 02:08:27 GMT

HPV (human papilloma virus) is, like any virus, resistant to
antibiotic therapy. Once a human is infected with the virus, there
is no known treatment.

HPV can cause warts to appear on the genitals, on the head of the penis
in men, and both internally and externally in women. These warts have
been inconclusively linked to cervical cancer in women.

There is no reliable examination or culture that will reveal the
presence of the virus unless warts have already developed, as far as I
understand it. Is there anyone with differing information? Is it possible
to diagnose HPV without the actual appearance of warts?

The diagnostic procedure for women is called a colposcopy, which involves
an examination of the cervix with a microscope-like device. The procedure
for men involves an application of a solution to the penis which turns the
warts white, making them easily visible. A similar examination for women
involves the application of white vinegar, which makes the woman smell like
a salad for several days afterward.

The virus is transmissible through sexual contact. However, there seems
to be some disagreement over the likelihood of transmission when no
warts are present. The gurus at Planned Parenthood swear that the virus
is transmissible at any time, with or without warts. But several letters
I received declared that transmission is highly unlikely unless warts are
present: apparently, the virus is not close enough to the surface of the
skin to cause damage if no warts are visible. The jury is still out on
this one. Anyone know for sure?

Once the warts appear, they are removed either by freezing, burning, or
laser surgery (which sounds like the least unpleasant option). Now, the
virus itself does not go away, I was told, but the warts do once they are
removed. Do they reappear? The consensus seems to be that they
generally do not. One woman who wrote to me declared that she had seen
no warts in seven years. Has anyone had recurring warts?

No real word on whether oral sex is a bad idea. When the warts are
present, I can't imagine that it would be too terribly pleasant, but
wartlessly, is there a high risk of transmission? Again, Planned
Parenthood shrieked in dismay and issued a stern "NO!" when I asked, but
I am not quite sure how reliable their information has been. Does anyone
know about this? Plenty of readers have suggested that oral sex be
performed with a condom, but I am also concerned with being the receptive
partner in this. Can oral sex be safely performed WITHOUT a condom or
dental dam?

Response from (anonymous)

The serotypes of this virus that commonly cause venereal warts are
associated with cervical cancer. Other serotypes of the virus have
been linked to other malignancies. As to transmission of HPV in the
absence of visible warts, even if no microscopic warts are present,
the mechanical trauma of sex is known to cause at least microscopic
damage to the skin/mucosa of the genitals that may provide a means of
transmission of this virus. The presence of visible warts only
increases the likelihood of such a transmission occurring in the
absence of adequate barriers to transmission. HPV can be detected in a
PAP smear as cellular atypia, but I believe that a PAP smear has a low
sensitivity for detecting HPV.