HPV-one of the most common sexually transmitted disease(18+)

This week, we're taking a more in-depth look at
one of the most common sexually transmitted
diseases in the world: HPV. It's thought that more
than 80% of sexually active people have had it,
and that most people will get it at some point in
their sexual lives! But what exactly is HPV, why is it so common, and
why do so few people know about it and take steps to prevent it? We'll
tell you!

What is it?
The full name of HPV is Human Papillomavirus.
HPV is also the name given to any kind any kind
of wart and only a minority of types are sexually
transmitted. HPV itself is not always sexually
transmitted, although it can be passed on via sex.
It is passed on through unprotected genital
contact, usually through vaginal or anal sex. It
can be passed on through oral sex as well. Like all STD's, people who
have it sometimes don't know they are infected and can pass on the HPV
virus without knowing they're doing it. HPV can affect any of the
mucous membranes in the body: the lining of the mouth and throat, the
vulva, the
vagina, the cervix, the skin of the penis and in
and around the anus. When it infects the skin, it
can lead to small warty growths.
There are over 100 types of HPV that have been
identified, and about 40 of them affect the genital
area. Of these types of HPV that can cause genital
warts – about half are not thought to lead directly
to an increased risk of cancer, these are called
'low risk'. However, about half of these HPV types are thought to be
much more likely to cause
cancer – these are called 'high risk'. Though not
all women who get "high risk" genital HpV will go on to develop
cervical cancer as a direct
consequence, about 99.7% of cervical cancer
cases are caused by HPV and many of these
result from HPV that was contracted when the
woman was in her teens or 20's.

Do I have it?
The vast majority of people have several types of
HPV in their body. This is an incredibly common
virus which we have nearly all come into contact
with at some time. However, many of us will
never have seen symptoms of this virus in the
genital area. Visible signs of HPV are sometimes
noticeable. You can identify a case of HPV by
looking out for warts around the penis, anus or
vaginal areas, but remember that symptoms of
warts in the rectum, inside the vagina or in the
urethra of the penis may be present, but not
easily visible . Any rough, raised bumps on the
genital areas should be checked out at your
nearest clinic to be diagnosed and treated.
Genital warts should never be treated with an
over the counter medication designed for warts
found on the hands or body. Once a doctor has
examined you and diagnosed warts, they will
advise on and prescribe treatment. Sometimes it
will be possible to use this at home. Treatment
can include a lotion or cream applied directly to
the skin or affected area, or may require a
treatment with other approaches, such as lasers,
electricity or the use of acids or dry ice. The type
of treatment depends on the size, nature and
location of the warts. Treatment of genital warts
just removes the unsightly symptoms, the virus
remains in the body for life, with the ability to re-
activate if the immune system is compromised or
low for any reason.

The link between cervical cancer and HPV
Although there is clearly a link between some
types of genital HPV and the later development of
cervical and anal cancer it is not inevitable that
having HPV in your body will lead to cancer. There are many other
environmental and lifestyle
factors involved. For women, attending for your
cervical (Pap) smear regularly and at least every 3
years is one of the best things you can do to pick
up any abnormalities that may develop early and
be able to access treatments. According to the
National Cancer Institute, up to 80% of cervical
and anal cancers are caused by the HPV virus.
"Cervical cancer" describes cancerous cells that
develop in the cervix and vagina of women, and
can ultimately lead to symptoms like heavy
bleeding, pain in the vagina and drastic weight
loss, though, worryingly, by this stage, the cancer
will already have been developing for many
months or years. If you are a smoker, have a
weak immune system, have had many children,
or have used an oral contraceptive for a long
time, you are more likely to develop cervical
cancer after having had HPV. You are also more
likely to contract HPV that may develop into
cancer if you have had many sexual partners.
According to the American Cancer Society,
everyone who develops cervical cancer would
have had one or more strains of HPV at some time in their life.

How can I prevent It?
There is currently no medical way to treat and
eradicate the HPV itself. However, genital warts
and lesions resulting from HPV can be treated
even though symptoms may take some time to
go away completely. Having safe, protected sex
from your first sexual encounter is the best way
to prevent contracting the HPV virus. Use
condoms correctly and every time you have sex
and to barrier all contact between mucous
membranes.
It is now possible for mothers to protect their
daughters from acquiring this destructive and
common virus as new generations of girls, who
have not yet come into contact with the virus, are
lucky enough to be able to have a vaccine that
will offer a high level of protection against both
the HPV and cervical cancer. If you are in your
teens or early 20's, it may be possible for you to
get vaccinated against HPV at your nearest clinic.
Currently, the South African government offers
free vaccinations to girl children 10 years and
younger – if you have a daughter, get her
vaccinated at a young age to minimise the
chance of her contracting cervical cancer in
future. Obviously, she may not be going to have
sex for many years to come, but there is no
better way to protect her against this often
invisible and damaging virus.
If you notice the symptoms of HPV appearing,
don't delay going to the clinic ASAP to get treated
– many people get infected with the virus, and
you shouldn't be ashamed or feel 'dirty' about
needing treatment. If you're a smoker, you can
increase your chances of developing cervical
cancer if you already have HPV. If you've been
diagnosed, stop or minimise your smoking habit.
Don't attempt to treat yourself at home or hope
that it will simply go away – get professional help!

HPV and Pregnancy
Changes to the immune system during
pregnancy mean that this can be a time when
HPV already in the mother's body but symptom -
free till now, flares up. Women with existing
genital warts sometimes find that these grow or
spread rapidly in pregnancy. They are also more
difficult to treat at this time and doctors will
normally choose to postpone treatment until after
the baby has been born, partly due to increased
miscarriage risk. However, if they get so big that
they may block the vagina or cause other
problems with delivery, the decision to treat to
remove or reduce them significantly may need to
be taken. There is a very low risk of the baby
picking up the virus during childbirth and even if
babies pick it up, their immune systems usually
clear it from the body.