Women and HIV/AIDS - Living with HIV/AIDS - Opportunistic Infections

HPV and Cervical Cancer

HPV and cervical cancer are greater risks for women with HIV. The cervix is the opening of the uterus (womb) and connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer occurs when normal cells in the cervix change into cancer cells. Before the cells turn into cancer, abnormal cells develop on the cervix.

A Pap test finds abnormal cells on your cervix. If you have abnormal cells, your doctor may also want to give you an HPV test to see if HPV caused the abnormal cells. Human papillomavirus (pap-uh-LOH-muh-veye-ruhss), or HPV, is a group of viruses. Some types of HPV cause abnormal changes on the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. HPV is very common, and you can get it through sexual contact with another person who has HPV. There is no treatment or cure for the HPV virus, but sometimes HPV will go away on its own.

HIV-positive women are more likely to get HPV and the types of HPV that cause abnormal cells. If you have abnormal cells or HPV, it does not mean you'll get cervical cancer. Treating the cervix before the abnormal cells become cancerous can prevent future cancer. If you have abnormal cells, talk to your doctor about whether treatment is right for you.

There are ways to prevent cervical cancer:

Get a complete gynecologic exam. This includes a Pap test and pelvic exam. A Pap test will find abnormal cells that can lead to cervical cancer.

Get a Pap test two times during the first year after you're diagnosed with HIV. If results are normal, get a Pap test once a year.

If results are not normal, talk to your doctor about how often you should get a Pap test and the next steps to take.

Research is underway to see whether medicine to treat HIV also might lower the risk of developing cervical cancer.

There are also other steps to take to help prevent cervical cancer:

Don't smoke. Smoking can raise your risk of cervical cancer.

Be faithful. This means you and your partner only have sex with each other and no one else.

Use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Condoms don’t always protect you from HPV. But they may reduce your risk of getting genital warts and cervical cancer.

Additional Resources:

Publications

Fact Sheet — Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts — This publication provides information on human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts. It includes modes of transmission, treatments, and ways of prevention.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/human-papillomavirus.cfm

HPV Common Infection, Common Reality — Genital HPV is not a new virus. But many people are not aware of it because it usually has no symptoms and goes away on its own without causing any health problems. But some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. This brochure provides an overview and facts on this common infection.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/common-infection/Bro-fp.pdf

Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers — This publication provides a comprehensive description of the many types of human papillomaviruses. It explains what they are, how they are contracted, and how they are treated. This publication also discusses HPV's role as the major cause of cervical cancer and provides a list of resources for additional information.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV

http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/Diseases_and_Conditions/Other_Diseases_and_Conditions/HPV.jsp...

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 4, 2009.

Women & HIV/AIDS

HPV and Cervical Cancer

Additional Resources:

Publications