HPV infection in women: clinical consequences, psychosexual impact and the chances of prevention

HPV infection in women: clinical consequences, psy- chosexual impact and the chances of prevention. Introduction. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infec- tion is the most common genital viral infection in humans. It is highly prevalent and increasing, due to promiscuity and unprotected sex. HPV is a wide family of DNA viruses, which may cause benign skin and mucosal tumours (genital, anal or oral warts), intraepithelial neoplasias and/or malignant cancers in different organs. Women are more su- sceptible to the oncogenic effect of HPVs, mostly at the genital site. Aims. This paper analyses the main characteristics of HPVs, the clinical consequences of their infec- tions in women, with the current epidemiology; so- me highlights on the actual measure of prevention, with a focus on the psychosexual consequences of HPV infections. Conclusion. The HR-HPVs (High Risk Human Pa- pillomavirus) have been causally related to several cancers in human (cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal), and the LR-HPV (Low Risk Human Papillomavirus) types related mainly to a benign sexually transmit- ted disease: genital warts.