HPV: 90% OF WOMEN WILL CONTRACT IT BY AGE 50....HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF!!!

 



 

 

 

HPV (Human Papillomavirus Virus) is a disease every woman needs to get educated on!!!  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), by age 50, 4 out of 5 women will contract HPV at some point in life.  It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, and carries the potential for devastating consequences.

Here's what you need to know to protect yourself:

• There are 2 types of HPV.  These types are classified on their propensity to cause cancer.

 

• "Low-risk" HPV causes warts.  It can inflict the genital regions of men and women, as well as the linings of the mouth and throat.  It is considered "low-risk" because it places the woman at low risk for developing cancer as a result of the infection.

 

• "High-risk" HPV causes cancer.  It can inflict the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and the head and neck (specifically, the oropharynx, which includes the back of the throat, base of the tongue and tonsils).

 

Treatment for "Low-Risk" HPV:

Treatment options available for those infected with "low-risk" HPV genital warts include freezing or burning the affected area with acid and or laser.  Multiple painful and prolonged durations of regular treatments are required in some circumstances to effectively get rid of the warts.  Once removed, however, there is no guarantee the warts wont return and future breakouts won't occur.

Treatment for "High-Risk" HPV:

Alternatively, those who've contracted "high-risk" HPV often will not experience any noticeable symptoms or abnormalities.  In fact, most women are completely unaware they have the disease.   The body's immune system is sometimes able to irradiate and naturally rid itself of the disease over a 2 year time period.  However, if the body's immune system is unable to get rid of the high-risk HPV infection, the HPV will begin attacking the normal cells surrounding the infection, causing them to take on an abnormal appearance.  This is what your gynecologist is looking for when you get a pap smear (and why it is so important to get one done regularly!).  These abnormal cells become cancer if not removed.

Cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer caused by HPV infections.  "High risk" HPV infections cause cervical cancer in approximately 10% of "high-risk" cases.  HPV also causes cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, or the oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils).   Surgery is required in such cases to remove the cancer.  Other treatment options such as radiothearpy and chemothearpy might also be needed.  Cervical cancer makes it extremely difficult for a woman to conceive, and left unchecked can cause death.

 

GET VACCINATED



Protect Yourself

The fact that in 2013, 4 out of 5 women contract HPV is something our society should be ashamed of.  Especially considering Guardicil, a vaccine that provides immunization against the disease, was introduced to society almost two decades ago.  This immunization has the ability to irradicate the disease and prevent the transmition of genital warts, and the 40 different types of cancers caused by HPV infection.
Despite the widespread epidemic of HPV, very few men and women are actually aware of the disease, prior to cntraction, let alone the fact that a vaccination exists to prevent its transmission.  This speaks to  the low importance placed on sex education and the resistance of religious radicals who equate ignorance with abstinence and prohibit the funding of adequate and responsible sexuality education programs in our school systems.
For more information on the transmission of HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases, go to www.GYT.org.
For more information on the vaccination Guardicil, contact your local healthcare provider.  Guardicil is covered by most major insurance plans and can be administered by your primary care physician.  You can also contact Planned Parenthood at 1800-230-PLAN or visit their website to schedule an appointment at www.plannedparenthood.org.