Human papilloma virus: prevention and treatment.

Knowledge regarding the relationship between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and many diseases continues to grow. Clinicians should not only understand how to treat HPV-related diseases but offer strategies to prevent them. This understanding encompasses patient education and counseling regarding modifiable lifestyle factors and patient participation in organized secondary screening programs. Finally, for the first time in history, patients may be offered safe and effective vaccines that promise to have a dramatic impact on these conditions.