HPV: What Is It? And Could I Have It?

March 9, 2008     Posted in Body

23113517.jpgThe first time I heard about HPV (Human papillomavirus), I’m pretty sure it was during a flash of a Gardisal commercial where a fresh faced young women talked about a vaccine to help prevent it.


By CC Staff

My first thought? What is HPV? My second thought, if there’s no signs of symptoms, how do I know I don’t have it?

In school, Sex-Ed visuals of puffy soars, warts, and growths scared me so much I barely wanted to touch a penis (though, I still did) but THAT was the connotation I had of sexually transmitted diseases. I figured it there was ever a burning sensation, I should seriously get my stuff checked, otherwise smooth sailing.

Being the smart woman I am, I “maned up” and got tests, visited my lovely gyno-lady and thankfully that all came out super clean, but here’s the thing;

With diseases like HPV, there are no signs of the virus–only rarely are there types of warts. And the scariest part about it, there are 30-40 types of the disease and the most commonly transmitted HPV types may lead to HPV-induced cancer. Cervical cancer being one of them. Hi, terrifying.

Though the body can fight off low-risk types of HPV, about 10% of women infected will develop long-lasting affects. Approximately 20 million American’s have the infection.

SO my advice to you ladies: GET TESTED and quit putting off that appointment to the gyno; pap smears are there for our safety!! And if you can, get the vaccine. HPV is something we can prevent ahead of time if we’re smart, and I know it’s always scary and easy to put off making a trip to Planned Parenthood to get a tests or to avoid the uncomfortable shifting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, but it’s better to know, than to deal with a high-risk of cervical cancer for the rest of your life. Besides, imagine if you passed it to one of your partners unknowingly?

BE SMART, stay informed, see your doc and prevent yourself from this entirely too common infection.

5 Comments on "HPV: What Is It? And Could I Have It?"

  1. Des UIC says:
    Mon, 10th Mar 20082:58 am 

    I found out that cervical cancer is prevalent and develops from HPV among women with auto-immune diseases. Most women are exposed to HPV. If this is so then how necessary is this Gardacil vaccine? Is it just a scam for money like “restless leg syndrome” when all you have to do is eat better nutritionally? Perhaps…

  2. Des UIC says:
    Mon, 10th Mar 20083:03 am 

    …Garasil prevent cervical cancer and wart development not HPV. http://www.gardasil.com/

  3. Cafergin says:
    Wed, 23rd Jul 20089:47 pm 

    I just was recently diagnosed with HPV, i had the shots and had only one partner, who says that he had only had another partner and that was after us, the shot is helpful even for people with HPV it can help you if you dont have types 6, or 11, and it can help prevent you from getting 4 different types including 6 and 11, when i found out i was scared, but i got over it, but HPV isnt something to play around with it is a serious matter, that can cause cervical cancer, so getting checked like Chelsea said is a must, go get tested so many people have it and dont even know.

  4. chris says:
    Sun, 13th Sep 20092:39 am 

    the best defense against HPV is still abstinence and knowing your partner very well. There is already an HPV Vaccine so i guess it would help a lot in controlling this disease.

  5. jackson says:
    Tue, 12th Jan 20109:50 am 

    i need to know if un protected sex makes women have a higher risk of crotch cancer? i neeed help badly,

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