Sex partner examination is not necessary for management of genital warts because no data indicate that reinfection plays a role in recurrences. Providing treatment solely for the purpose of preventing future transmission cannot be recommended because the value of treatment in reducing infectivity is not known.
Sex partner counseling provides an opportunity for these partners to learn about the implications of having a partner who has genital warts and about their own potential for future disease transmission. It also provides an opportunity to offer these partners STD and Pap screening
(if appropriate).
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Cervical Cancer Screening
The cervical Pap test is an effective, low-cost screening test for preventing invasive cervical cancer, an HPV-associated disease. Cervical cancer screening is recommended for all sexually active women. For complete information see the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guide to Clinical Preventive Services Screening for Cervical Cancer Recommendations.
Reporting Requirements
HPV infection is not a reportable infection in most states. Check with your local health department for reporting requirements in your area.
HPV Vaccines
Several potential HPV vaccine approaches are under investigation. The most promising is the use of virus-like particles (VLP), which preserve native conformations of viral proteins without presence of viral DNA.
In a recent double-blind, multi-center, randomized clinical trial, administration of a HPV type 16 (HPV-16) VLP vaccine reduced the incidence of HPV-16 infection and HPV-16-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. HPV-16 is present in 50 percent of cervical cancers and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias and in 25 percent of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias.
