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HPV Awareness
Know your status, stop the spreadWhat is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most commomn sexually transmitted infection. It is passed on through genital contact (such as vaginal and anal sex). It is also passed on by skin-to-skin contact, and can also infect the mouth and throat. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females. For most people HPV clears on its own within two years. For others who don’t clear certain types of HPV could cause significant consequences such as: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females. Other types could cause genital warts in both males and females. And there’s no way to predict who will or won’t clear the virus. At least 50% of people who have had sex will have HPV at some time in thier lives. There is currently no cure for HPV.
Sources cited: fda.gov, gardasil.com, cdc.com. and about.com
Sources cited: fda.gov, gardasil.com, cdc.com. and about.com
Did you Know?
- HPV is so common in the United States, it has been described as a virtual "marker" for having sex.
- The CDC estimates that 20 million people are currently infected with HPV; 6.2 million Americans have been infected each year, and at least 50% of sexually active individuals will acquire an HPV infection at some point in their lives.
- Girls and women ages 9-26 protect themselves from HPV and cervical cancer related to HPV by getting the cervical cancer vaccine, which is also approved for boys and men ages 9-26.
