Apart from the possible appearance of genital warts, infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) does not usually cause symptoms and the immune system usually rids the infected person of the virus within two-years. When the infection is not cleared, HPV can cause cervical cancer, oral cancer, head/neck cancers, anal cancer, penile cancer, and others. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that about 1 in 4 American men and 1 in 5 of American women between the ages of 18 and 59, are infected with strains HPV that can cause cancer. Prevention of HPV infection can prevent all of these cancers. It is also worth noting that 45% of American men have some form of HPV, which makes it the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country. The study confirms the importance of safe sex practices and getting the recommended HPV vaccines.
Top