HPV
HPV: This vaccine prevents four types of viral infections that can later lead to cervical cancer. The official name is human papillomavirus.
HPV – A common virus that is spread through sexual contact and leads to certain forms of cervical cancer and genital warts.
Information obtained from CDC
For additional information go here - then click on the disease
SYMPTOMS:
It is very difficult to know when a person has HPV. There are very few visible symptoms. Sometimes an abnormal pap test for women is the first sign they have HPV. HPV can be passed through genital contact with another person. The only way to know for sure if you have HPV is to ask your health care provider to test you for it.
WHAT TO DO:
If you are concerned about having HPV, contact your health care provider.
Before symptoms occur, get your shots!
PICTURES:
Since it is difficult to know if you have HPV and at times, the symptoms are not easy to see, no pictures
are provided here. When the disease is clearly identifiable, the pictures are very graphic in nature.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Why is the HPV vaccine only for adolescent girls and women? Because of the
link between HPV and cervical cancer. Some experts are beginning to consider the need to give adolescent boys and men the vaccine as well because of the transmission of HPV and because there is starting to be some evidence that HPV is also linked to some throat cancers.
Christine Baze, 31 years of age, a Boston musician and cervical cancer survivor, shares her personal story to educate and empower women. For her story click here: http://www.immunize.org/reports/report091.asp
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Four Facts About HPV
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You are more likely to have HPV if you smoke
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You are more likely to have HPV is you start having sex at an early age
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You are more likely to have HPV if you have many sexual partners
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You are more likely to have HPV if your sexual partner has many sexual partners
Source: Cervical Cancer Campaign
ADDITIONAL WEB SITES:
Q & A Cervical Cancer Campaign
Q & A about the vaccine - CDC
Missouri site: www.mohpv.org – Has general information about HPV as well as sites offering HPV vaccine through the Missouri Foundation for Health Grant |
