Things You Need to Know about HPV
According to the statistics, human papillomavirus or HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. Able to cause some health effects, HPV is still preventable with vaccines. Of course, for most people infected with HPV, the virus has no symptoms, it is harmless and doesn’t cause health issues, while for others the infection leads to either warts or precancerous lesions. Lesions in their turn multiply the risk of cancer of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, mouth, throat, etc. To learn more about the infection and be protected, Avid advises to read the article and disclose things that are unknown to lots of people.
It’s 50/50
HPV is not one thing at all, but it is a combination of over 150 strains of related viruses. Most strains don’t show any symptoms, and sometimes you don’t even know that you had HPV. In the majority of cases, the immune system does its best to clear the virus in a couple of years. While it doesn’t put your health at risk, let’s not forget the cases when the virus infects the genital areas (sometimes it causes warts or cancer). It happens especially when it fails to disappear from your body on its own. So if you have been sexually active, the chance of being infected by HPV is 50/50%.
Condoms Can’t Completely Protect
Do you know why it is important to get vaccinated for HPV before being sexually active? One of the reasons is that the risk of HPV infection exists even when you use condoms and have the false feeling of protection. You are totally mistaken, believing that condoms reduce the risk of the infection and protect you. Gynecologic oncologists propagate vaccination to young people round the clock, stating that the virus may live in the scrotum and all hair-bearing areas of the genitals. Any skin-to-skin genital contact is capable of transmitting the virus. It’s the same as for oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
Smoking Raises Your Risk for HPV-Related Cancer
Smoking brings countless harms to your health. It is the reason for poor well-being and many health issues. Weakening your immune system, smoking is directly linked with HPV and HPV-related cancer. It leaves its disastrous impact on your HPV infection, if you have it in your body, since it turns the infection into a cancerous growth. So for the sake of your health, you have to give it up, according to gynecologic oncologists who deal with HPV-based cancer every day in their medical practice.
It Isn’t for Females Only
Most people think that the HPV vaccine does not manage to provide women with 100 % protection against cervical cancer (this is caused by HPV types 16, 18 - two third of cervical cancer cases are because of these two types). It’s good to know and accept that the HPV vaccine is really beneficial for men’s health since it prevents the development of genital warts. This field of medical science and healthcare is not thoroughly studied, however, many researchers and prominent gynecologic oncologists claim that the vaccination of males will decrease the rates of oropharyngeal cancer and other types.
Some info for you to remember:
HPV vaccination is recommended for preteens at age 11-12, and if desired, starting at age 9.
For those who haven’t been vaccinated before, there is a recommendation to do it up to the age 26.
The HPV Vaccine Doesn't Treat HPV
Again and again HPV vaccination does not treat, it has only a preventive function. The vaccine never fights and beats the virus in infected people. This is why vaccination is highly recommended and guaranteed for preetens and children as the older you are, the more exposed you are to at least one of the HPV strains.
Conclusion
No treatment is possible for HPV infection, yet the infected person has many chances to get rid of it during some time. Fortunately, due to your sound and strong immune system, it can go away on its own.