Human Papillomavirus (hpv)

Human Papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that is common in adults who are sexually active. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 50% of persons who engage in active sex in the U.S. stand to get infected with human papillomavirus at one stage in their lives. (CDC, 2011)

The human papillomavirus is transmitted primarily through sexual intercourse and this is why it is a major sexually transmitted infection. The symptoms of human papillomavirus are not quite conspicuous and most of the individuals who get infected rarely show any significant signs. This is a factor which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have attributed to the fact that the body's natural system is capable of clearing up the HPV in a span of two years. However, there are some kinds of HPV that are known to cause genital warts in both men and women. Some other kinds of HPV are capable of rendering body cells abnormal and consequently results to cancer in the long run. (CDC, 2011)

As of now, there is no treatment that has been discovered for the HPV; however, treatments are available for the effects which are occasioned by the virus. For instance, genital warts are treated using medication and the cervical cells caused by HPV are also treatable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that HPV-related cancer is easily treatable if it is detected at an early stage. Individuals who have the tendency of engaging in sexual intercourse without protection are highly prone to HPV and as such, people are advised to be very careful of their sexual habits. Another category of people who are highly susceptible to HPV infection are those who have sex with multiple partners. This sexually transmitted infection is of interest to me since it is an important cause of cancer among not only among Americans but also world over; despite this, people rarely pay attention to it. (WHO, 2011)

REFERENCES

1. Human papillomavirus (HPV) from www.who.int Accessed on 1/10/2011

2. Human papillomavirus from www.cdc.gov Accessed on 1/10/2011