Of the 30 to 40 strains of human papillomavirus that can be acquired through sexual contact, HPV 16 and 18 are the most problematic for women. These high-risk varieties of the virus are jointly responsible for more than 70% of all cervical cancer cases (as well as anal, vaginal and vulvar cancers) and, worst of all, exhibit no symptoms of infection between the time they enter the body and the appearance of cancerous cells.
What are HPV 16 and 18?
Before discussing what HPV 16 and 18 are, it may be helpful to first point out what they are not. Contrary to common public perception, the forms of human papillomavirus that cause cervical cancer are distinctly different from those that cause the appearance of genital warts. Though closely related, the more common strains of the virus like HPV 6 or 11 are relatively harmless (aside from the aesthetic issue of causing warts that is). So, if you contract HPV and start seeing warts, there is no need to immediately panic and assume that you’re going to develop cancer.
Getting back to what HPV 16 and 18 are, these two genotypes of the virus are strains that are similar in most ways to their more common relatives. They embed themselves in the skin and mucous membranes and are transmitted from partner-to-partner via direct contact with an infected patch of skin. Unfortunately, neither of these forms of the virus cause visible symptoms of HPV in women, so there is no way to know if someone has the disease simply by performing a visual inspection.
Instead, 16 and 18 enter the body silently and then lay dormant (sometimes for years) before finally announcing their presence by causing the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix, anus, vagina or vulva. If caught early enough, these cells can be treated fairly painlessly. However, if they are not caught early they can quickly evolve into one of the aforementioned forms of cancer.
How are HPV 16 and 18 Treated?
Like other forms of HPV, the high-risk varieties of the virus cannot actually be treated. Instead, if you are diagnosed with an infection, your physician will most likely advise you to begin a program of regular monitoring for changes in the cell structure of your cervix and other sexual organs. Pap tests and periodic HPV tests (where a tissue sample is collected and screened specifically for the human papillomavirus) will be scheduled as part of this process.
In as many as 90% of cases, the infection goes away on its own. For the remainder of occurrences, however, it may eventually become necessary for your physician to remove any abnormal cells through one of several minor surgical procedures. When performed early enough in the process, this treatment is highly effective at eliminating any problems before they develop into cancer.
A Word on HPV Prevention
Protecting yourself from HPV 16 and 18 requires the same common sense steps you would take to avoid contracting any other sexually-transmitted disease. Condom usage is effective at reducing the risk of acquiring HPV, but not as effective as it is at stopping other types of infections.
Because the disease can be transferred to a new host through skin-on-skin contact in non-sexual parts of the body as well (e.g. abdomen, thighs, etc.), your best strategy for prevention is to limit your number of sexual partners and avoid having sex with anyone you know to be promiscuous. In the end, this will be the most-effective way to avoid contracting HPV 16 and 18, or any other form of the virus.