HPV: The Facts

Posted by Alona in For the LadiesApr 12th, 2011 | no responses

Many people are still unclear on where HPV comes from and what it means. HPV is actually a sexually transmitted infection, and thought its symptoms are similar to many STDs, it can lead to more serious problems. An even more serious problems is the statistics showing how common HPV is.

How Do People Get HPV?

HPV is passed though genital contact, and it can be passed even when one sexual partner is not showing signs of an infection. A person can have HPV even if years have passed since the contact took place, and actually, most infected individuals do not realize they are infected until they pass it onto someone else. It is also possible t get more than one type of HPV. It is also possible, though very rare, for a pregnant woman who has HPV to pass it onto her child during delivery. This can result in the baby developing RRP.

How Common is HPV?

About 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and another 6 million people become infected every year. HPV is so common in fact, that at least 50% of sexually active people get it at some point. A symptom of HPV is genital warts, and about 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have them. A serious problem that can result from HPV and warts is cervical cancer, and each year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with it in the United States. Though there are several cancers that can result from an HPV infection, cervical cancer is the most common. The best thing people can do to lower these statistics is to practice safe sex, and after that, the best we can do is to stay conscious of our health and make regular trips to the doctor’s office for screenings.

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