Human Papillomavirus 16

What is Human Papillomavirus 16 (HPV 16)?

Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) is a type of virus that can affect human skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as your cervix, anus, vagina, mouth and throat. It's especially dangerous for women, because it significantly increases the risk of cervical cancer. Generally, every year, HPV is detected in more than 500,000 women and 8,000 men in the United States alone.

How HPV 16 Affects Your Body?

Once HPV 16 enters your body, it can cause warts on your skin, genitals, or throat. If it manages to embed itself in the cervical lining of your cervix, it can lead to changes in cervical cells that can eventually evolve into pre-cancerous lesions. Pre-cancerous cervical lesions can eventually turn into cervical cancer.

HPV 16 Symptoms

HPV 16 typically poses no visible symptoms. Not all people infected with HPV 16 develop warts and many infections clear up within two years without any long-term effects. The only way to detect an HPV 16 infection is through an HPV DNA test.

Risk Factors for HPV 16 Infection

The most common risk factors for acquiring HPV 16 include:

• Having sexual intercourse with multiple partners.
• Not using a condom or having sexual contact with someone who is infected.
• Having a weakened immune system due to HIV or other chronic illnesses.
• Having cervical cancer or other types of cancers related to HPV.

Treatment and Prevention for HPV 16

There is no specific treatment for HPV 16. In most cases, it resolves on its own. However, pre-cancerous lesions may need to be monitored and treated depending on their progression. To prevent HPV 16 infection, it is best to practice safe sex, abstain from sexual contact, and get vaccinated against HPV.