REF.: CDC, USA.
What is HPV? Should I get the HPV vaccine?
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes). HPV is so common that
nearly all sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives.
There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems
including genital warts and cancers. But there are vaccines that can stop these
health problems from happening.
How is HPV spread?
You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with
someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal
sex. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms.
Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, even if you have
had sex with only one person. You also can develop symptoms years after you
have sex with someone who is infected making it hard to know when you first
became infected.
Does HPV cause health problems?
In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause
any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health
problems like genital warts and cancer.
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of
bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or
shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by
looking at the genital area.
Does HPV cause cancer?
HPV can cause cervical and other cancers cancers including
cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the
back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (called
oropharyngeal cancer).
Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a
person gets HPV. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same
as the types of HPV that can cause cancers.
There is no way to know which people who have HPV will
develop cancer or other health problems. People with weak immune systems
(including individuals with HIV/AIDS) may be less able to fight off HPV and
more likely to develop health problems from it.
How can I avoid HPV and the health problems it can cause?
You can do several things to lower your chances of getting
HPV.
Get vaccinated.
HPV vaccines are safe and effective. They
can protect males and females against diseases (including cancers) caused by
HPV when given in the recommended age groups (see “Who should get vaccinated?”
below). HPV vaccines are given in three shots over six months; it is important
to get all three doses.
Get screened for cervical cancer.
Routine screening for
women aged 21 to 65 years old can prevent cervical cancer.
If you are sexually active
•Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
This can lower your chances of getting HPV. But HPV can infect areas that are
not covered by a condom - so condoms may not give full protection against
getting HPV;
•Be in a mutually monogamous relationship – or have sex only
with someone who only has sex with you.
Who should get vaccinated?
All boys and girls ages 11 or 12 years should get
vaccinated.
Catch-up vaccines are recommended for males through age 21
and for females through age 26, if they did not get vaccinated when they were
younger.
The vaccine is also recommended for gay and bisexual men (or
any man who has sex with a man) through age 26. It is also recommended for men
and women with compromised immune systems (including people living with
HIV/AIDS) through age 26, if they did not get fully vaccinated when they were
younger.
How do I know if I have HPV?
There is no test to find out a person’s “HPV status.” Also,
there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat.
There are HPV tests that can be used to screen for cervical
cancer. These tests are recommended for screening only in women aged 30 years
and older. They are not recommended to screen men, adolescents, or women under
the age of 30 years.
Most people with HPV do not know they are infected and never
develop symptoms or health problems from it. Some people find out they have HPV
when they get genital warts. Women may find out they have HPV when they get an
abnormal Pap test result (during cervical cancer screening). Others may only
find out once they’ve developed more serious problems from HPV, such as
cancers.
How common is HPV and the health problems caused by HPV?
HPV (the virus): About 79 million Americans are currently
infected with HPV. About 14 million people become newly infected each year. HPV
is so common that most sexually-active men and women will get at least one type
of HPV at some point in their lives.
Health problems related to HPV include genital warts and
cervical cancer.
Genital warts: Before HPV vaccines were introduced, roughly
340,000 to 360,000 women and men were affected by genital warts caused by HPV
every year.* Also, about one in 100 sexually active adults in the U.S. have
genital warts at any given time.
Cervical cancer: More than 11,000 women in the United States
get cervical cancer each year.
There are other conditions and cancers caused by HPV that
occur in persons living in the United States. Every year approximately 17,600
women and 9,300 men are affected by cancers caused by HPV.
*As these figures only look at the number of people who sought
care for genital warts, this could be an underestimate of the actual number of
people who get genital warts.
I'm pregnant. Will having HPV affect my pregnancy?
If you are pregnant and have HPV, you can get genital warts
or develop abnormal cell changes on your cervix. Abnormal cell changes can be
found with routine cervical cancer screening. You should get routine cervical
cancer screening even when you are pregnant.
Can I be treated for HPV or health problems caused by HPV?
There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there
are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause:
1. Genital warts can be treated by you or your physician. If
left untreated, genital warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or
number.
2. Cervical precancer can be treated. Women who get routine
Pap tests and follow up as needed can identify problems before cancer develops.
Prevention is always better than treatment. For more information visit
www.cancer.org.
3. Other HPV-related cancers are also more treatable when
diagnosed and treated early.
No comments:
Post a Comment