2008 Woodie Awards
Human papillomavirus, the silent enemy
The facts about the virus that is targeting women young and old
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Editorials
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HPV is a common virus though, and I am not here to scare you. It is common for women to contract HPV but their bodies will generally fight it off over time like the flu. HPV has no clear signs of infection like the flu and most healthy young women will be unaffected by it. HPV can be transmitted not only through sex, but also through any genital contact.
Another thing to realize is that the new HPV test is not necessary for those under 30 unless they have had an unusual Pap smear test. To clarify, the pap smear tests for abnormalities in the cervix and the HPV test looks for certain strains of "high risk" HPV that cause cervical cancer.
So if you have an abnormal pap test and have a "high risk" HPV, then the gynecologist will do a colposcopy, which is a vinegar solution that is rubbed over the cervix to look to see if any cells turn white. There may be a sign of cervical cancer, which means your gynocologist might do a biopsy of the suspected area of infection.
Don't let this worry you though; if you are under 30, this is all not so relative to you. And your primary focus would be considering getting the new HPV vaccine known as Gardasil, which helps protect against four kinds of HPV and is a vaccine that is given through three injections over a six-month period of time.
If you or someone you know is between the ages of 12 and 26, then you are in the prime age group for the use of the HPV vaccine. Know though that you should first speak to your gynecologist and get a clear picture of what your risks are and if it is necessary for you.
Additionally when you make your yearly visit to your gynecologist, make a list of any questions you have so as not to forget. Remember that HPV takes between 10 to 15 years to develop into cervical cancer, so if you do find out you have HPV, your body may fight it off on its own, and your doctor will keep an eye on the infection to make sure it doesn't get worse.
For more information about the Gardasil vaccine you can go to http://www.oneless.com. For information about the HPV test go to http://www.thehpvtest.com.
The Chabot Health Center will be providing an informative discussion on cervical cancer and HPV on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 2pm to 3pm in room 120B.
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