HPV or Human Papilloma Virus is the most common of all sexually transmitted infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opine that over 90% of all males and females are likely to contact this infection at some point in their lives if they practice unsafe sex. Skin to skin contact is the means through which it’s transmitted from person to person.
Over 40 strains of HPV cause life threatening cancer. Mayo Clinic predicts over 100 HPV strains are present. According to CDC, people remain blissfully unaware of the infections for many months since they’ve contacted it, and in 90% of people, the immune system helps clear the infection within a period of two years, provided safe sex is practiced. This is the silver lining in the clouds. Our immune system works over time to rid the body of these infections without any side effects.
Dangers of HPV
The dangers of HPV are the appearance of genital warts and other types of warts. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts and these appear as raised clusters like cauliflower florets. They are easily transmitted to others through sexual contact. Warts make their appearance within weeks or months after contact with an infected individual.
Genital warts will not cause cancer. Lesions and warts of the tongue, larynx, tonsils and nose can develop if oral sex is indulged in with infected partners. These are low risk warts and will not turn cancerous. It’s the high risk HPV strains that result in cancer.
Cancer
Cervical cancer is caused by certain strains of HPV, with no noticeable symptoms according to CDC. Only Pap smear tests will help screen for these cervical infections. Sexually active women having multiple partners need regular pap tests. Cancers of Vulva, penis, vagina, head, neck and anus are likely to develop.
Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
Recurrent respiratory Papillomatosis is another disease which is likely to occur in humans according to studies by CDC. Recurrent respiratory Papillomatosis or RRP causes development of warts in the throat area leading to breathing problems and hoarseness of voice. Medications and surgery are the general treatments to help rid of this problem. An HPV infected woman can pass on RRP virus strain to her newborn child but this condition is quite rare.
Symptoms and Prevention of HPV
In Majority of cases, men remain unaware of any infections as no signs or symptoms surface till months have passed. Suddenly, many people detect cauliflower like growths on their penis head or genital areas and panic.
Even if the symptoms don’t appear, it doesn’t mean you cannot be carrying any one of the virus strains. Until you do the Pap tests you don’t know it actually exists and can cause cancer. Women especially develop cervical cancer which can be life threatening. Regular health checkups and pap smears will help to rule out HPV cervical cancer causing strains. Every time a woman has sex with a new partner, it’s advisable to undergo tests for their own safety.
If you’ve genital warts, it cannot kill you especially if you a man, but it can be very embarrassing as it doesn’t present a very pretty picture and is painful.
If you have a HPV strain that can cause cervical cancer to your partner, then imagine the trauma you can go through as you live all your life with guilt feelings for having been the cause of this life threatening disease to your unsuspecting partner. Keep this fact in mind. Every time you have sex with your partner, you don’t know how many other people she or he has been with.
‘Prevention is better than cure’ or so the famous saying goes and it pays to adhere to this valuable saying. Practice safe sex always and have regular health checkups and pap smears if you‘re a woman. Avoid multiple sex partners and be faithful to a single partner. When you follow these steps, you both will remain absolutely safe without any contact with HPV.
Use latex condoms as a precautionary measure. Avoid oral and anal sex. Medications under medical supervision and surgery are help rid of some strains of HPV. HPV injections like Gardasil and Cervarix, are available for prevention of certain strains of HPV and it’s advisable to take them early in life, if you are sexually active.
