When my daughter turned 10 years old a few years ago, I took her for her regular check-up to our pediatirician. Alongwith other vaccines and immunizations, I was advised to start thinking about getting her vaccinated for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) to protect her against infections in the later stages of life.
I will be honest I felt a little distressed. While I am at a stage where I have to start planning for my health and wellness to battle perimenopause, now I also have to start thinking about my daughter’s sexual health at least till the time she becomes sensible enough to make her own decisions.
Don’t get me wrong! I am not complaining but just try to think from a mother’s perspective whose daughter is barely a preteen and has already been asked to decide for her daughter’s future. She is growing and I am already crying in my head. I am not ready for this.
That discussion changed my perspective toward my daughter, and she is no more a baby but a budding preteen who has hit puberty. Having said this, I also want my daughter to have a safe and protected adulthood where she can have the freedom to make the right and informed decisions.
After that discussion, I realized there are so many mothers like me who are going through the same emotional upheaval and looking for answers. In this blog, I have shared every bit of information I gathered during my discussion with our pediatrician and online research.
In this blog, you will read about the myths related to HPV, the types of cancers that HPV can cause, and what causes HPV in females.
What is HPV?
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease and a very prevalent infection among women and men. Intimate skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity is the most common way for it to spread from person to person.
HPV commonly manifests in the form of genital warts. Warts can appear everywhere on the body, although they are most commonly found on the hands and feet of the infected person. These warts are contagious and can spread through contact, but they are not cancerous.
If you have a daughter, I strongly recommend having a conversation with your pediatrician about protecting her from HPV-related cancers like cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in India and the fourth most common cancer in women all over the world. It is mainly caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) – Debunking Myths
Let’s debunk some myths about HPV if you think you can’t get it –
Myth# 1 – HPV infection happens only in the genital area.
Fact – Human HPV exists in over 100 different varieties. Your vagina, vulva, cervix, rectum, penis, scrotum, and anus, as well as your mouth and throat, can be infected by over 40 different types. HPVs of this kind are transmitted through sexual contact.
Myth# 2 – HPV spreads only via vaginal sex.
Fact – HPV spreads by having not just vaginal but anal and oral intercourse too with a person already infected with the virus. Even if an infected person shows no signs or symptoms, HPV can be transmitted.
Myth# 3 – HPV spreads with multiple partners
HPV can infect anyone sexually active, even if they have only had sex with one person. Years after having sex with an infected person, you may acquire symptoms. It’s difficult to tell when you first become infected because of this. The incidence of HPV was 28% in women with a first sexual partner and increased to almost 50% in 3 years.
Myth# 4 – Only women get infected by HPV.
Fact – Any sexually active person, whether female or male, who comes in contact with an HPV-infected person can catch the infection. Since HPV infection doesn’t have any visible signs like other forms of viral infection, one has to be extremely careful and watchful.
The statistics are skewed towards women catching the infection whereas little is known about men having HPV infection in India. However, HPV screening is possible for women but there is no screening mechanism for the detection of HPV in men.
What types of cancers are caused by HPV?
According to the research done in this area, HPV has been linked to the following cancers:
- Cervical Cancer – Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects women. Most genital HPV infections, on the other hand, do not result in cancer. In women who have HPV, smoking can increase their risk of cervical cancer.
- Other types of cancers – HPV has also been related to less common cancers. Penile, anal, vaginal, and vulvar malignancies and oral cancer are among them.
What causes HPV in females?
In females, HPV symptoms and causes are more commonly talked about because of the ease of screening. A female who is sexually active and has oral, vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HPV, has a very high chance of contracting the virus. Although, the most common medium for it to spread is through vaginal or anal sex.
During intercourse, it can also spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. Therefore, a condom also does not give 100% protection from HPV infection. Even if the infected person shows no signs or symptoms, a person infected with HPV can infect someone else.
However, a vaccine is the safest way to dodge the symptoms of HPV in females and prevent infections.
Why HPV vaccination is the safest way of prevention?
There are many myths about HPV vaccine. Below are a few reasons why HPV vaccination is the safest way of prevention –
- Only lifetime mutual monogamy and abstinence can prevent all genital HPV infections. There is no conclusive evidence that barrier contraception, such as the use of condoms, protects against HPV infection.
- The HPV infection is asymptomatic, except for genital warts. Yet, given the density of the population in India, it’s hard to run a large-scale screening program. Therefore, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- HPV is the most common viral infection in females directly affecting the reproductive tract and can cause fertility problems in the future. Thankfully, it is a vaccine-preventable infection.
Bottomline
I highly encourage you to seek an opinion from your doctor on HPV prevention – both vaccination and screening – to help prevent future health risks and safeguard wellbeing. As a mother, I believe the HPV vaccine is a good way to help protect young girls and women’s health and their ability to have healthy babies in the future.
Read more about HPV HERE. You can also talk to the expert on the website about HPV prevention
Issued in the public interest by MSD India. This information is for awareness only. Please consult your doctor for more information on HPV.
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