What is hpv and hpv dna testing?

HPV (H-Human Papilloma Virus) , which can cause cervical cancer, is considered one of the most common infections caused by sexual contact in the world. Therefore, it is vital to take precautions against HPV infection. Cervical cancer, which can be diagnosed early thanks to both vaccination and routine scans, smear test and HPV DNA tests, is a disease that must be evaluated by gynaecological oncology specialists.  Determining the type of HPV virus, especially with HPV DNA testing, ensures that one step ahead in the fight against cancer. Gynaecological Oncology Specialist from Memorial Health Group Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department Assoc. Dr. Gökhan Demirayak gave information about HPV and HPV DNA tests.

What is HPV?

HPV is a virus that commonly causes cervical cancer and warts. There are more than 200 HPV types. Some types of HPV virus can cause warts and some cancers. Not every HPV virus can cause cancer, but some genital HPV species can cause cervical cancer. Penile and genital cancers have been associated with HPV infection. HPV can be divided into high and low risk HPV types. The most common and highest-risk HPV virus types are HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 33, HPV 31, HPV 45, HPV 52 and HPV 58. The most common but low-risk HPV types are HPV 6 and HPV 11. High-risk HPV types can lead to cervical cancer; low-risk HPV types can lead to genital warts.

How is HPV DNA testing performed?

HPV test can be performed with the swab method to be taken from the cervix. If there are warts, samples of warts (under local anaesthesia) and swab samples are examined in the laboratory. A smear test should be performed along with it. This process only takes a few minutes.

What does HPV Positive mean?

HPV positive outcome is a problem that many people will encounter. However, every HPV positive result does not necessarily mean that there is or will be cancer. When HPV is transmitted, the person's immune system activates and fights to get this virus out of the body. Thanks to the immune system, these viruses can be excreted within 12 months and 90% within 2 years after 75% transmission. If not, the virus can integrate into the DNA and initiate the cancer process. The immune system is very important in this regard. This process may fail in smokers and those who do not eat regularly.

What does HPV Negative mean?

Sometimes, HPV negative results are seen in tests. This means that there is no HPV in the body. Nevertheless, caution should not be abandoned. HPV is a sneaky virus. When a negative result is observed, it is necessary to keep the immune system strong and to take precautions to prevent HPV from entering the body.

What are the Positive symptoms of HPV ?

When HPV enters the body, the immune system usually defeats the virus and expels it from the body. However, in cases where the immune system is insufficient, warts may appear in some places as a symptom in the body. However, unfortunately, HPV types, which are more important for us and have a high risk for cervical cancer, do not show symptoms. Therefore, we strongly recommend HPV DNA screening tests to detect these viruses.

Genital warts: These are flat lesions, appearing as small cauliflower-like lumps. Genital warts are seen in women. These occur in the vulva, near the anus, in the cervix, or in the vagina. In men, it is seen around the penis and anus. They rarely cause discomfort and pain. It may cause itching in the person.

If the virus has caused cancer, there may be pain during sexual intercourse, pain in the pelvic region, unusual discharge, unusual bleeding after sexual contact.

In later cancer cases, weight loss, difficulty in urinating, and blood in urine can be seen.

HPV can also be a cause of cancer orally. This causes persistent sore throat and ear pain, hoarseness, swelling in lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, and weight loss for no reason. HPV can cause vaginal cancers. HPV can cause cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, vulva cancer, head and neck cancers and anal cancers.

Women must have PAP Smear and HPV DNA tests regularly.

Frequently asked questions about HPV-HPV DNA testing 

What happens if my HPV screening test is positive?

If your HPV test is positive, there should be no panic. This result does not mean cancer, but indicates that you should be evaluated for the risk of pre-cancer lesions or cancer. For this reason, your test results should be evaluated and examined by a gynaecological oncologist or an experienced obstetrician, and after the examination, the cervix, vagina and, if necessary, vulva should be evaluated in detail by colposcopy in appropriate patients. Colposcopy is a procedure that requires special experience and, in this examination, the tissues are enlarged between 6 and 40 layers. With some special dyes, the visibility of pre-cancer lesions is increased and small biopsies are taken from suspicious areas and sent to pathology. Colposcopy is a indolent, painless procedure performed in the clinic environment. Capturing pre-cancerous lesions before they turn into cervical cancer and thus treating them enables the patient to have a cure chance by capturing the tumour at an early stage, even if it has progressed to the cancer stage.

What happens if HPV is positive but there is no wart?

HPV is an infectious virus. It can stay without showing any symptoms when it enters the body. While some types such as HPV 6 and 11 cause warts, many other types such as HPV 16,18,31,33,45,52 and 58 may initiate the progressive process of cervical cancer. Therefore, the person has a positive high-risk HPV DNA result, but if there is no wart, it should be seen by a gynaecological oncology or gynaecology and obstetrics specialist.

What does HPV negative smear negative mean?

The person receiving this result is very unlikely to develop cervical cancer. It is recommended to have HPV and smear screening every 5 years.

Are HPV DNA and smear tests the same thing?

These two tests used in the screening of cervical cancer are different from each other. In the HPV DNA test, the presence of 14 HPV types (HPV type 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 41, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68), which can lead to cervical cancer in the swab taken from the cervix, is investigated. Patients whose one or more of these viruses are found to be positive are evaluated by colposcopy and whether these viruses initiate the process that progresses to cancer, especially in the cervix, is evaluated. In the pap smear test, it is evaluated whether there are cellular changes in the cervix caused by high-risk HPV types in the swab taken from the cervix and vagina. In these patients, especially the cervix is evaluated by colposcopy to evaluate whether there is a lesion that can progress to cancer. If a pre-cancerous lesion is detected in colposcopy (such as CIN2 or 3), these tissues are removed by a relatively simple procedure called LEEP.

HPV warts, or is it contagious?

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. It can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, oral intercourse, vaginal intercourse or anal intercourse with the person carrying HPV. Although it is not a wart, HPV is contagious.

What are the risk factors for HPV?

Polygamy increases the risk of HPV infection. People who have had sexual intercourse with more than one person are at higher risk. In addition, people whose immune system is weakened are at risk. HPV can also rarely be transmitted through contact with surfaces exposed to HPV.

How to clean HPV?

The immune system should be strengthened to ensure that HPV is excreted from the body. This may be possible with regular sleep, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and recommendations that support immunity.

Does HPV 16 cause cancer?

There are more than 200 types of HPV. In particular, HPV 16 is a risky species in terms of cancer. While HPV 16 and HPV 18 species cause cervical cancer, HPV 6 and HPV 11 can cause warts in genital organs.

Does HPV vaccine prevent cervical cancer?

HPV is a very dangerous virus. HPV and cervical cancer are closely related. HPV vaccine prevents HPV infection and protects against cervical cancer.

Vaccines of 4 and 9 also prevent genital warts. When applied before the first sexual intercourse, it has almost 100percent protection.

Should HPV be a concern?

Patients usually come to us in panic when they learn that they are HPV positive. However, there is no need to panic. Up to the age of 50, 3 or 4 out of every 5 women are infected with HPV, although they are not aware of it. 90% of high-risk HPV positive women recover from this virus spontaneously within 2 years thanks to their immune system. Cancer risk occurs in the 10% group who cannot eliminate the virus. Therefore, cervical cancer does not develop in the majority of women infected with HPV. However, since we cannot predict which women will progress to cancer, women with high risk HPV positive should definitely consult a specialist and follow up.

Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.