HPV, It’s Risks and What We Should About It

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The human body is a wondrous yet weird thing – the more we learn about it, the less we actually know about its amazingly complicated functioning. For example, were you aware that, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and second most common cancer in women in India?

Yes, this is right as this data is published by the American Cancer Society. Fortunately, with awareness, the situation has improved, but one must still take precautions.

So, what exactly causes cervical cancer, among other severe health issues for women? The main cause is the Human Papillomavirus or HPV, which is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

I learned about this a decade ago, when I was in my early 20s. My forward-thinking gynecologist spoke to me about HPV and recommended preventive measures emphasizing the need for safe sex, regular check-ups/screening & HPV vaccination; and so, I have personally followed the advice and got myself vaccinated. Now, armed with this information, I’m glad I will be able to make my children aware about HPV diseases and prevention.

Do continue reading to learn more about HPV and its symptoms and how it can be prevented. I would recommend you consult your doctor/gynaecologist about its preventive measures, including the vaccine. This way you can also help protect your children’s freedom to enter adulthood without fear and with confidence.

HPV, its risks and what we should do about it

WHAT IS HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS OR HPV?

The HPV infection is a viral infection that manifests commonly on the skin in the form of warts. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some low risk types of HPV infection cause genital warts, and in the worst cases, they can cause different types of cancers. Fortunately, most HPV infections clear on their own and don’t lead to serious health problems. But if some high-risk types of genital HPV remain in the body, it can cause cancer of the lower part of the uterus which is known as the cervix. Other types of cancers that have been linked to HPV include cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva. The most common way of transmitting these infections is through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.

Nearly all sexually active people can be infected with HPV within months to years of becoming sexually active. Around half of these infections are with a high-risk HPV type. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. Anyone sexually active can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person.  One can develop symptoms years after you have sex with someone infected. This makes it hard to know when you first became infected. Incidence of HPV was 28% in women with first sexual partner and increased to almost 50% in 3 years.

The main causes of human papillomavirus infections are a weak immune system from another illness, the presence of conditions like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), or if one takes immunosuppressant medications regularly. Further, warts can occur where the skin has been cut open or injured. Unfortunately, touching a wart or a surface that a person with HPV has come in contact with increases the likelihood of infection.

WHAT IS THE DISEASE BURDEN?

HPV is the cause of almost all cases of cervical cancer in India.  Most HPV infections clear out on their own. However, in some women, the human papillomavirus doesn’t simply go away. This can cause the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix. If left untreated, these cells may develop into cervical cancer.  Early-stage cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms. Apart from cervical cancer, HPV can cause other cancers as well, including cancer of the vulva and vagina. 80% of sexually active men and women get infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime!  India accounts for 20% of the global burden of Cervical cancer. Every 5 minutes one person dies due to HPV cancers, and cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India.

These kinds of statistics make it important for us to be aware of the Human Papillomavirus, so we can help protect our children in turn.

HOW DOES HPV DISEASE MANIFEST?

HPV can manifest in the form of warts. Often, the human body quashes the virus before it translates into warts, but when they do appear, they look different depending on which kind of HPV is involved. For example, genital warts can look like flat lesions, small cauliflower-like bumps, or tiny stem-like protrusions. They rarely cause discomfort or pain, though they may itch or feel tender. Other types of warts include common warts, plantar warts, or flat warts.

Most sexually active people might never know they have HPV because the infection usually goes away on its own. According to a study, HPV infections usually occur 2 to 3 months after sexual interaction. In some cases, they have been known to occur many years after sexual interaction.

CAN HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VIRUS BE TREATED?

There is no treatment for the virus itself. There is, however, a preventive vaccine for HPV. Your doctor can provide you with more information about it. I’m aware that HPV can affect the reproductive tract.

My doctor had advised me that the vaccine should ideally be taken before a person becomes sexually active. This is why they recommend girls should take them in their teens – the earlier the better. However, traditional wisdom has changed since then, and you should consult your doctor to find out more.

If you have not had occasion to take the preventive vaccine, it’s never too late to consult your doctor simply to learn more about it and help prevent certain HPV-related cancers and diseases including genital warts, and cervical pre-cancers. Using condoms and dental dams during sexual activity can also prevent the spread of HPV. My doctor advised me to take regular Pap screenings and take the HPV DNA test.

There is no need to panic or feel worried about HPV if you are reading about it for the first time. Knowledge is power and only by being aware of the disease will you be able to deal with it head-on. So, consult your doctor to safeguard your health and that of your loved ones today.

You can read more about HPV here, and consult their expert about HPV prevention.

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Issued in public interest by MSD India..

This information is for awareness only. Please consult your doctor for more information on HPV.

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This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

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*This is a sponsored post.

**Copyright in pictures and content belongs to nooranandchawla.com and cannot be republished or repurposed without express permission of the author. As I am a copyright lawyer by profession, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.

89 comments

  1. It’s better to prevent it before with the help of a vaccine. And regular screening would also help.

  2. Regular check-ups are mandatory for people who are sexually active. Even I have to consult my doctor regarding the same.

  3. The statistics you have provided are really shocking. Never knew HPV was this serious. Great article

      1. Extremely informative article. Thank you for sharing. There are lots of myths about the vaccine itself. Much of it has been addressed here. Best to consult your gynecologist and proceed as per their advice.

  4. This is very informative. There’s some things like HPV that’s a great added knowledge. We often skip this kind of topics, same as finances and sexuality, as we feel it’s a bit too private but talking about it and sharing knowledge and information about these topics can be of enormous help to many without us knowing. Great article.

  5. Thanks for writing on HPV as there is lack of awareness wrt to it. One must opt for it and consult their doctors for advice in the right direction as prevention is always better than cure.

  6. Thank you for sharing this informative post Noor… got to know a lot of things. I am not a pro vaccine person and I’ve also read that the HPV vaccine can cause infertility so I still have my hangups.

  7. HPV I don’t know anything about it. Yes cervical cancer is the major issue. My granny died due to cervical cancer. Glad to know the detailed information about HPV.

  8. This post helps make us aware of all the risks involved and the steps to
    prevent them. This is worth sharing with sexually active people.

  9. This is a very important post. People are usually not aware of HPV. You are absolutely right. Only if we are aware of a disease, we can take necessary precautions.

  10. Honestly untill I read this content I was having a vague idea about HPV and was not aware that it can be a cause of HPV… I am thankful to you for educating me about this serious topic.

  11. The stats are alarming. I have reading a lot lately about HPV. And definitely a preventive vaccine is a must. That with regular pap smears and mammograms that also do save lives.

  12. This is the first time I am reading about this virus. It is great you have written a article about this and more and more people can learn about it. Cervical cancer is increasing a lot in women nowadays and knowing about HPV is very important. I am surprised why all the gynaecologist do not inform the female clients about this.

  13. I never knew that there was a vaccine for HPV. This is a very informative blog, Noor and a must read for all youngsters. Hope the awareness grows and people start taking the vaccine as prevention is always better than cure.

  14. This is a very informative post. It is definitely an important thing to consider. Its good to see the awareness about this.

  15. The numbers are scary but I am so glad I learned about this in depth through your post. People need to know about this to take preventive measures like vaccination.

  16. I had no idea that cervical cancer is so common in women worldwide and it’s the second most common cancer in women in India but still there is not much awareness about HPV which is the main cause of cervical cancer.

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