HPV, or human papillomavirus has been making headlines. With Gardasil, hitting the market last year, countless commercials and magazines are advertising the HPV vaccine. Their “one less” campaign has become commonplace. Just what is HPV though? Here are the facts, the ones you may already know, and the ones they don’t tell you.
HPV has over 100 strains, of these over 30 of the strains are sexually transmitted. Of the sexually transmitted strains, there are two categories: low risk strains and high risk strains which if left untreated can lead to cervical cancer.
HPV Fact #1 – HPV is not screened for in a STD test
Although HPV is technically a STD, it is not screened for in a typical STD test. Even if you think you are being responsible and getting a STD test before having unprotected sex, you may still catch HPV since it is not tested for.
HPV Fact #2 – There are normally no symptoms
Unless you are in the later stages of cervical cancer where you may experience abnormal bleeding or increased vaginal discharge or have a low risk strain of HPV that causes genital warts, there are really no signs of HPV infection. The only way a woman will find out if she has HPV is through an abnormal pap screening. If abnormal cells are found, the doctor will perform a HPV test by taking a sample of cervical cells. All women are not routinely tested for HPV because of the high number of false positives and false negatives.
HPV Fact #3 – There is not a HPV test for men
At press time, there does not exist a test to screen men for HPV. Unless he is a rare minority (about 1% of infected men) that may develop genital warts on his penis, groin or anus he will never know he is infected. He can pass HPV from partner to partner without ever knowing he was infected.
HPV Fact #4 – Over 80% of sexually active people will have HPV at one point in their life
Over 20 million people currently have an HPV infection in the United States alone, and nearly 80% of people will be infected sometime within their lifetime. Nearly half of diagnosed cases of HPV are high-risk strains that if left untreated could evolve into cervical cancer.
HPV Fact #5 – You do not need to have intercourse to catch HPV
Although HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, the term STD is misleading. You can catch HPV through oral sex, genital-to-genital contact, anal sex, or even sexual touching. A quote on quote “virgin” can be diagnosed with HPV.
HPV Fact #6 – Condoms don’t protect you from HPV 100% of the time
Although condoms can reduce the risk of passing HPV, they do not guard against HPV as much as they would other STD’s like gonorrhea and Chlamydia. HPV can exist in skin that is beyond the reach of a condom. You can actually catch HPV even if you use a condom.
HPV Fact #7 – HPV can lie dormant in your body for years
HPV is not like other STD’s in the sense normal STDs break out when you are first infected. Some people may carry a strain of HPV for decades before there is an infection. Because HPV can lie dormant, you may not ever know you have HPV until you’ve infected other people. Although you may be in a long term monogamous relationship, you or your partner may have been infected decades before by another partner.
HPV Fact #8 – High risk HPV can lead to cervical cancer if left untreated
High-risk HPV infections essentially produce abnormal cervical cells. As these cells mutate, they can evolve into precancerous cells, which if left untreated can evolve into cervical cancer. Most HPV infections will clear up on their own between 8 -13 months, but it’s important to follow your doctors guidelines about follow up appointments.
HPV Fact #9 – The only vaccine, Gardasil, only protects against 4 strains of HPV
Gardasil, commonly known as the “HPV vaccine” only guards against 4 strains of HPV: Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. 70% of cervical cancers are caused by Types 16 and 18 and up to 90% of genital warts associated with HPV are caused by Types 6 and 11.
HPV Fact #10 – Most insurance only cover the vaccine for girls ages 9 to 26
Insurance companies will cover girls ages 9-26 years old because they feel like anyone older than 26 is most likely already exposed to one, if not all of these four types of HPV. According to Planned Parenthood’s website, some young men have also received the Gardasil vaccine, however most insurance does not cover young boys. At present, I couldn’t find any documentation if Gardasil is offered to men within the United States.
HPV is a scary disease because of how common it is. Until recently, I had never even heard of the disease. Women are afraid to discuss it because they feel “dirty” or “slutty” however over 80% of the population will be infected with this disease at one point in their life.
It’s imperative that young girls and women get annual pap screenings. Skipping even one annual visit may allow enough time for a HPV infection to develop into full blown cervical cancer. If you do not have insurance, you can still be screened by contacting Planned Parenthood or scheduling an appointment at a free clinic. This is one disease that cannot go ignored. Caught early, there is treatment to prevent the infection progressing to cervical cancer. Again, a reminder that a girl does NOT have to be sexually active to be exposed to HPV. Any type of sexual play or touching could spread the disease. You CAN contract the disease even if you do use a condom during intercourse. It is advisable that you get the vaccine for your daughter before she is old enough for any sexual activity.
It is crucial that young men become educated about the disease. For a long time, HPV has been considered a “women’s problem.” Although there have been a few cases of penile cancer caused by HPV, the vast majority of people directly affected by this disease are young women. Since there is no test, men can pass this virus from partner to partner even if having protected sex with a condom.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/hpv/STDFact-HPV-and-men.htm
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/hpv.htm
http://www.gardasil.com
