HPV, All About the Human Papillomavirus
Who is this little virus that can cause cancers all over the body, genital warts, and is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world?
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of over 200 viruses, they are spread by skin-to-skin contact. Some of these strains are spread specifically by sexual contact, can increase our risks of various cancers.
Who gets HPV?
Contrary to the popular belief that HPV only affects women, it is actually the most common sexually transmitted infection and can affect anyone. If you are having any kind of skin to skin contact with the genital regions, like oral sex, anal or vaginal intercourse, you can be exposed to HPV infections.
If it’s so common, what’s the big deal?
Not only does HPV increase the risk of many types of cancers, including cancer of the mouth and throat, cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, and penis, it can also cause genital warts. Since the HPV virus can be asymptomatic, and can be passed through skin-to-skin contact, it’s easy to spread without us even knowing we have it! Most people who get an HPV infection won’t know they have it because our immune system attacks it before it starts to cause symptoms. But again, HPV can cause persistent infections that lead to symptoms, and may cause the growth of cancerous cells.
So what can I do about HPV?
Get vaccinated.
In Canada everybody from the ages of 8 to 45 are able to be vaccinated. Remember the series of vaccinations you received in Grades 3, 6, and 9, those included the HPV vaccine! The HPV vaccine is available by prescription from a physician or a prescribing pharmacy, it’s fancy full name is the Gardasil 9 Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine. This vaccine is given in three doses within a one year period.
Wear a condom!
Condoms, dental dams, we love our barriers. Barriers prevent skin-to-skin contact, which offer some protection against HPV. Condoms should always be used to practice safe intercourse, especially with a new partner.
Screen against cervical cancer.
If you have a cervix, be sure to get a pap smear every three years (in Alberta) or at your doctor’s recommendation. A pap smear/pap test is when a sample of the cervical cells are collected using a swab, and sent to a laboratory for testing. While screening is not available for the other types of cancer that can be cause by HPV, pap smears are widely available and can be done at a women’s medical clinic, like Maud, or by your family physician.
March 4th 2022 is International HPV Awareness Day. Join us and “March” to get vaccinated against HPV!
Read more about HPV here, and come down to Maud to see how you can get the vaccine
