Yes, I'm going to get on a soap box here - but this is a topic that is close to my heart. I know many people (including myself) who have been diagnosed with what I shall call the silent and little known STD - human papillomavirus (HPV). I only share this bit of personal information because HPV is not a very well known STD, and a lot if unknown about it. Most importantly is that the consequences of the virus are very severe - cervical cancer for woman, but very little impacts for men. What's really strange is that most men AND women carry the virus and have no ill effects. If you well educated on the HPV - read up - PLEASE.... The best fact sheet is on the CDC's website - linked HERE.
Alarmingly a new bit of research was released on Monday. Turns out that roughly half the general population of men in our country may be infected with HPV - which to this date has been thought of to date to be just a "woman's disease." There currently is a vaccine - you might have seen the commercials on tv to prevent HPV infection. The vaccine called Gardasil has to date only been given to women between the ages of 11 and 26 (I missed the age range!), and while doctors are free to use the vaccine in boys and men from ages 9 to 26 US Health Officials not have yet recommended the practice.
HPV is scary. Little is known in the general public about the virus and the test for the virus is not given in routine STD examines. Likely a woman won't find out about an infection until she has been diagnosed with a side effect - ie precervical cancer, genital warts, etc.
Like all the other STD's prevention is obviously key. But unlike other STD's HPV does have a vaccine - so girls if you can - GET the vaccine! If you are too old, like me... protect yourself, EVERY time.
No comments:
Post a Comment