Treatment of HPV
Can HPV be cured?
In most people, the HPV virus clears up by itself. Antibiotics are not used to treat a virus. Therefore, there is no medical cure to eliminate the HPV virus.
All you can do is try to prevent contracting the HPV virus. Four types of HPV cause the majority of genital warts (types 6 and 11) and most cases of cervical cancer (types 16 and 18). Two vaccines are now available in Canada; one protects against types 16 and 18 and the other against all four types. Your parents can obtain the information on how to get the vaccine from your doctor.
Treatment of genital and anal warts
There are many treatments that can be done at home or in the doctor's office to treat genital and anal warts. On average it takes about eight (8) months to get rid of the warts. Genital and anal warts can sometimes come back.
Your parents, your doctor or school nurse can help you find a good treatment option for you. If one treatment does not work well, don't be embarrassed to speak to them again on what other treatment is available.
There are other aspects of your life that can affect the success of your treatment such as if you smoke, if you have a diet deficient in Vitamin A, or if you have another sexually transmitted infection such as Chlamydia and HIV.
Treatment of pre-cancerous lesions
Pre-cancerous lesions rarely cause any noticeable symptoms. These are usually detected through a Pap test (smear) or a colposcopy. It does take many years (as much as 10 years) for pre-cancerous cells to develop into cancer, so having a regular Pap test will ensure that any abnormal cells are detected early. The most common reason a woman develops cervical cancer is because she did not have a Pap test.
Pre-cancerous lesions can usually be treated successfully. Options at this stage can include loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) which involves the removal of a tissue using a wire loop. Other treatments include laser therapy or cryotherapy.
Treatment of HPV related cancer
Once you have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, it means there is invasive cancer in the deeper layers of the cervix and has spread to the uterus. If the cancer is limited to the cervix, it can be treated with the removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).
If the cancer involves the anus or other genital area, the cancer can be treated by surgery or radiation therapy.
If you have never had a Pap test, this brochure will provide information on what to expect.
