Final answer:
HPV treatment can be provider-applied like cryotherapy or patient-applied like imiquimod. Gardasil is a vaccine that helps prevent HPV infection. While treatment addresses symptoms, vaccines aim to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question is the treatment of HPV (Human Papillomavirus), which includes various methodologies that can be applied by either healthcare providers or by patients themselves. Healthcare provider-applied treatments may include procedures such as cryotherapy, where warts are frozen off, or the Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), which removes abnormal tissue from the cervix. On the other hand, patient-applied treatments can consist of topical medications such as imiquimod, which stimulates the immune system, or over-the-counter solutions like salicylic acid for wart removal.
Preventative measures against HPV include the usage of Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against high-risk types of HPV and has significantly cut down infection rates since its approval. It's important to note that while condoms reduce the risk of HPV transmission, they cannot guarantee full protection against the virus.
In summary, HPV treatments and prevention strategies involve both medical procedures and self-applied treatments or vaccines, with the goal of addressing symptoms and reducing the risk of more serious health issues such as cervical cancer.