Information About HPV Critical To College Womens' Health
by Ashley Owen
04/03/2008
Seventy-five to 80 percent of sexually active adults in the United States are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the University of Georgia Health Center website.
HPV cannot be seen, and most do not know that they are infected. Because HPV is a virus, it can lie dormant in the body for weeks or years. Most people infected will never develop symptoms, according to The Centers for Disease Control.
More than 50 percent of college age women were found to have acquired an HPV infection within four years of first having sex, according to The American Cancer Society.
“I didn’t really know about HPV until a friend of mine found out she had it,” said Jessica Boggs of Atlanta. “Women need to be informed. It really is a big issue.”
Almost half of the infections in the US are in people between the ages of 15 and 25, putting college women in the high-risk category. Any sexually active person can come into contact with the virus. Some doctors think HPV is almost as common as the common cold virus.
Those most likely to contract HPV have many sexual partners, are younger than 25 years old, start having sexual intercourse at age 16 or younger, or have a male partner who has had many different sexual partners. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and there is currently no cure. However, the diseases caused by HPV can be treated.
The most common diseases caused by the virus are genital warts and cervical cancer. More than 99 percent of cervical cancers are related to HPV. HPV has also been linked to anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
The types causing genital warts are classified as “low-risk,” and those causing cervical cancer are classified as “high-risk.” Genital warts are usually easily treated when they first become visible. Those who believe they have genital warts should see a doctor for treatment as soon as possible.
Cervical cancer usually shows no symptoms until it is in the advanced stage. Women should have regular Pap tests to identify any changes in the cervical cells.
Most men have no symptoms, and there is currently no test to identify cell changes (such as the Pap test) for men.
The occurrence is very rare, but it is possible for women to pass HPV on to their children during vaginal delivery. This is called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). In these cases, the child may develop warts in the throat or in the voice box.
While the only absolute protection from HPV is abstinence, there are alternatives.
According to the CDC, the body’s immune system clears HPV naturally within two years in 90 percent of cases. One defense is to maintain a healthy immune system. Some ways of doing this are having a healthy diet, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, washing your hands frequently, cutting down on caffeine, and not smoking.
Condoms provide some protection. HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact, but condoms do not cover the entire genital area, so transmission is still possible.
One of the best alternatives for women is Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine. It provides protection from four of the most common types of HPV (types 6, 11, 16 and 18). Types 6 and 11 cause 90 percent of cases of genital warts, and types 16 and 18 cause 70 percent of cases of cervical cancer.
Gardasil does not protect from the over 100 other subtypes, so it is still very important for women to have regular Pap tests. Gardasil is available at the University Health Center. The vaccine requires three doses. Each dose costs $156.
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