Protect yourself against HPV!

To support the campaign against HPV-Genital Warts, a special script reading session and blogger's forum event was held last Friday December 3, 2010.

"Hosts Slick Rick, Tony Toni and Sam YG of Magic 89.9 delighted the audience with their peculiar conversations at the MSDs “Look Who’s Talking? The Genital Dialogues

"Dr. Jennifer Co, OB-GYN infectious Disease Consultant of FEU-Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation Medical Center and Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, talks about the risk, threats and protections from HPV."

Wart’s happening?
How to deal with genital warts and avoid getting them in the first place

The increasing number of HPV related cases is very alarming. Imagine, every year, about 32 million people are infected with the disease.

In most cases, HPV infections go untreated, because majority of them would not even know they have it since there are no symptoms. Most HPV infections will be cleared by the body's immune system but for those that persist, certain HPV-related diseases may develop such as genital warts.

What are genital warts?

Also known as venereal warts, genital warts are caused by certain types of HPV.

In men, warts manifest on the penis, especially under the foreskin in uncircumcised men, or in the urethra.

In women, they occur on the vulva, vaginal wall, cervix, and skin around the vaginal area.
Genital warts may also develop in the area around the anus and in the rectum, especially in people who engage in anal sex.

While some HPV types may cause genital warts, other HPV types may cause cervical cancer as well as the less common but serious cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and head and neck (tongue, tonsils and throat).

How is HPV-genital warts transmitted?

It can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, oral sex, or even mere skin-to-skin contact of the genital area (non-penetrative sex).

Warts usually appear one to six months after contact with an infected partner (even if the infected partner has no signs and symptoms), starting out as tiny, soft, moist, pink or gray growths. They develop rapidly and become rough, irregular bumps, which sometimes grow out from the skin on narrow stalks. Warts often grow in clusters with their rough surfaces making them look like a small cauliflower.

Warts are highly transmissible - more than 75% of people coming into contact with genital warts develop the disease.

Condom use does not guarantee total protection as condoms do not cover all areas that may be infected by HPV during sex.

 

Mutual monogamy, on the other hand, effectively reduces the risk of infection. However, even people with only one lifetime partner can still get HPV if their partner has had previous sexual relations.

If left untreated, warts may either go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size and number. In some cases, however, warts can be difficult to treat because of episodes of recurrence.

How can i prevent the disease from occurring?

Abstinence.  This involves abstaining not only from penetrative sex, but from oral, genital-to-genital, and hand-to-genital contacts or non-penetrative sexual acts as well.

Once you suspect having genital warts, immediately seek medical advice. It is best to consult your doctor for them to rule out any possible serious health problem, and for the doctor to advise you on treating and managing the disease.

You should also have your partner examined for HPV-related diseases and treated accordingly.

Improve immunity. A healthy immune system often clears HPV and stops it from causing symptoms or health problems. One way to help boost immunity against HPV is through vaccination.

It can be availed of only upon the prescription of a doctor. It does not treat existing genital warts, cervical, and vaginal cancers.

It is delivered in 3 separate intramuscular injections over six months. Women should avoid pregnancy during the course of the vaccination.

To know more about genital warts and HPV prevention, consult your doctor and visit www.helpfighthpv.com.