Health low down on hpv things you should know Getting the news from your OB/GYN that you have an abnormal PAP smear is disconcerting to say the least. Good for you for getting tested every three years as recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. Cervical cancer can be prevented by identifying cell changes early while they’re easier to treat. The next appointment on your calendar with your Dr. will probably be a colposcopy. This test is just a closer look at the cells of the cervix to see what’s up down there! Do I have cancer? Why are the cells going all wonky? Wait, what is HPV, how did I get it? How is HPV connected to cervical cancer? If you’re over 30 you should also get the HPV test along with your PAP. HPV is short for human papillomavirus. HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses some of which cause genital warts, some cause cancer and some are benign. How do people get HPV? From other people! The CDC recommends three ways to avoid HPV viruses. 1. Use condoms (HPV is transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex) 2. Get the vaccines (Do your homework here www.cdc.gov) 3. Limit the number of sexual partners About 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. You can develop symptoms years after being infected, making it hard to know when you first became infected. 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 genital warts and cancer. There haven’t been any documented cases of people getting HPV from surfaces in the envithe ronment, such as toilet seats. However, someone could be exposed to HPV from objects (toys) shared during sexual activity if the object has been used by an infected person. Each year in the US, about 39,800 new cases of cancer are found in parts of the body where HPV is often found. HPV causes about 31,500 of these cancers. Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-associated cancer among women, and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) are the most common among men. There are many clinical studies being done on HPV currently. Researchers strongly suspect that they will connect more HPV types to cancers. There are some promising clinical studies underway that are looking at the properties of carrageenan in preventing the spread of HPV via a personal lubricant. Divine 9® lubricant made by CarraShield® Labs is being used in three clinical studies. Their proprietary blend of plant extracts is showing great promise in reducing the likelihood of contracting new viruses. Stay tuned to their website for the latest updates on the studies www.carrashieldlabs.com/research This article is in no way intended to serve as a substitute for medical advice. Your personal gynecologist is your best source for advice about your health. WomanToWomanMagazine.com 15
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