Herpesvirus Hominus and Human Papillomavirus, more commonly known as oral or genital herpes and HPV, are often confused, though they are actually completely independent of one another. The only similarity they do share is the fact that they are both classified as viruses, and therefore rendered incurable.

The herpes virus is classified in the manner of subcategories, or simplexes. There are five different categories of simplexes. The two most common are herpes simplex one and herpes simplex two. Herpes simplex one for the most part affects the mouth (resulting in what we know as oral herpes), and herpes simplex two is known to affect the genital area. However, because there are common associations that each simplex is linked to, there can be an overlap and there is no set assignment to where the virus infects.

HPV, on the other hand, is what we know as the wart virus. Human Papillomavirus has more than one hundred strains and can affect many different areas of the body, from the wart on a person’s hand to the genital region. Overall, there are thirty known strains of the virus that affects the genitals; the most serious strain is the one that causes cervical dysplasia, or abnormal cells on a woman’s cervix.

HPV and herpes infect different parts of the body, though both are transmitted through skin on skin contact.

HPV is a skin infection. The virus usually enters the skin of an uninfected person through direct contact with the skin of an infected person. Next, the DNA of that person is altered by the infection and it is a permanent change. However, there may not be a visible change on the surface of that person’s skin to account for the mutation.

Herpes is an infection of the nerve cells. Herpes infects the pelvic region of the spinal cord, and oral herpes infects nerve ganglia at the brain base.

“Bumps” are an ordinary way to describe either herpes simplex or human papilloma virus, but the visible symptoms of both are incredibly varied. Herpes simplex one and two are both known for producing blisters when an active infection travels from the nerve cells out to the surface of the skin. Those blisters, or sores, go on to scab over, heal, and then eventually fall off. They can reveal themselves in the facial area, or in the visible genital area. HPV appears differently when recognizable symptoms are present. Human papilloma virus will present itself as a small wart, resembling a skin tag, in the visible genital region. In men, warts are on the penis or scrotum, or in the rectal area. Warts on women will appear internally or externally in the vaginal region, or also around the rectum. Women may also have warts on their cervix.

According to Planned Parenthood of New England, there are high risk strains of HPV that do not usually cause genital warts, but instead cause abnormal pap smears or pre-cancerous cells on the cervix. This is one of the main reasons it is so important to have regular pap smears; the high risk strains display no visible symptoms. Without annual testing, there is potential for abnormal cells to develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.

Though there may be visible symptoms for both viruses, many carriers are unaware that they are infected. Some herpes carriers do not get the characteristic blisters or sores that the disease is known for. The person’s saliva, penis, or vaginal region can still be infected even if they are not showing typical, visible symptoms. With HPV, it is even more common to have an infected person who is visually asymptomatic. In some cases, warts may develop, but it could take months or years before that happens. Therefore, it is difficult to be one hundred percent sure when the virus was contracted.

That is why the numbers of infected people for both viruses is astonishing. It is believed that in the states, herpes affects eighty million people. That figure means that about one in six American adults are infected. In the states alone, five hundred thousand people are diagnosed with the herpes virus every year.

Human papilloma virus is quick to rival those numbers. A Planned Parenthood New England information pamphlet claims that seventy-five to ninety percent of sexually active people, even if they have only been exposed to one sexual partner, carry HPV. It is thought that up to one hundred million people in the U.S.A. carry the human papilloma virus. The numbers keep rising, and every year there are in excess of five million newly infected Americans carrying genital HPV. The virus is thought to be one of the most common human infections.

The large numbers of infections are because of the way the viruses are transmitted. HPV and herpes are passed from one person to another through direct skin on skin contact. Sexual intercourse is not an essential factor in regards to infection. The viruses enter an uninfected person through a break in that person’s skin. With human papilloma virus, one cannot become infected with genital warts from a wart on a part of the body other than the genitals, for instance, on a person’s hand. Both strains are considered to be HPV, but genital warts are only contracted sexually. Infection can possibly occur if a person were to touch an infected person’s genitals and then their own. Condoms may prevent some HPV infections from spreading, however, if the disease is active in an area not covered by the condom, then protection is not one hundred percent.

Transmission of the herpes virus is also through skin on skin contact; however, auto-inoculation may occur when an infected individual touches an infected area of their body and then touches another area of their own body. A person carrying the herpes virus in the oral region may spread the virus to their partner’s genital region. The most common transmissions occur from an active herpes blister to the vagina, penis, rectum, and mouth. As with HPV, condoms are important for protection, however, transmission may still occur from another area not covered by the condom.

With both viruses, there are different levels of contagiousness to be taken into consideration. With herpes, during an outbreak is an important time to remain sexually abstinent. A person is considered to be contagious when there are prodromal symptoms. Prodromal symptoms include itching, tingling, burning, or anything else that occurs before there are visible symptoms; in women this may include flu-like symptoms occurring before the primary breakout. Active sores and healing blisters are also major warning signs of current contagiousness, and symptoms may lessen consistently with every outbreak. Again, there are people who are asymptomatic, even while they are actively shedding the herpes virus and therefore are contagious.

Human papilloma virus, though believed to have no cure like the herpes virus, differs in regards to “clearing” of the virus. Like herpes, a strong immune system plays an active role in suppressing symptoms. With HPV, the immune system also takes part in the time frame of contagiousness. First there is the active HPV infection, where there are symptoms such as genital or rectal warts, or in women, an abnormal pap smear result. Next is the subclinical infection where there are no longer visible symptoms, yet the virus is still actively contagious in the skin. Following that is the latent HPV infection, where the body has not displayed symptoms in a great while and the immune system has worked to reduce the viral levels and lessen contagiousness. In this stage, the virus has potential to become active again. Finally, there is immune suppression. At this phase it is highly unlikely that the virus will be transmitted, if not impossible. It may not ever leave the body, however many people who have HPV are thought to not be contagious forever.

Research suggests that HPV may not longer be contagious after a while. Couples have also been known to have sexual relations for many years without passing the herpes virus from the infected partner to the uninfected partner. Regardless, it is still very important to discuss these sexually transmitted infections with your partner(s). The fact remains that both viruses are considered incurable. Many people with both human papilloma virus and herpes are unaware that they have the disease, but for those who are, treatments are available for both viruses. Overall, communication with your partner(s) and knowledge of the viruses are important factors in preventing future infections and protecting yourself.