Medical Mystery, Meet Sex Education

July 11, 2008     Posted in Other Stories

tree-man.jpgIn Sex Ed, we had to take “Name that STD” tests. In college, our RA’s handed out “Safe Sex” kits filled with condoms and pamphlets on HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection. About 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, with about 6.2 new infections popping up each year. Over 50% of sexually active men and women acquire a genital HPV infection during their lives, and on college campus, the numbers are even higher. If those numbers aren’t enough to encourage you to get the new HPV vaccine, check out the story of Dede, an Indonesian fisherman who just got diagnosed with some pretty serious HPV.


By Kathryn S

1% of sexually active people break out in genital warts. You might think that number seems low, but are you really willing to play Russian roulette with your vagine? Getting back to Dede, the 35-year-old man has been labeled the “Tree Man,” due to some mysterious lesions on his skin, and root-like growths stemming from his hands and feet. For years, his condition went undiagnosed, until an American doctor discovered that Dede has an HPV infection. Unfortunately for the fisherman, he also has an uncommon immune system defect, so while most people can hide their downstairs bumps, Dede grew severe warts all over his body, causing him to lose his job, his wife, and his self esteem.

Genital warts are removed when a doctor freezes or burns them off of the patient’s skin, which how Dede’s doc, Dr. Gaspari, plans to treat his patient. The larger, root-looking warts will be surgically removed. Experts say this deficiency that caused this outbreak is less than a one-in-a-million occurrence.

Still, the next time you get caught up in a sexy, steamy romp, don’t take any chances. Sex won’t make your limbs turn into plants, but whether it’s little red bumps, slimy discharge, or, even worse, cervical cancer, it’s not worth it to be the “ONE” in “one in a million.” So get vaccinated, get tested, use protection, and treat your body right.

10 Comments on "Medical Mystery, Meet Sex Education"

  1. Victoria W - Bingham says:
    Fri, 11th Jul 20085:08 am 

    Great article, I absolutely agree with your point of view of not taking chances. But there have also been some reported issues with Gardisil, the HPV vaccine which has been so heavily marketed to teens. The CDC and drug manufacturer say its safe- but there have been reports of paralysis and death. I'm on the fence about it.

    Poor tree man. =(

  2. move says:
    Fri, 11th Jul 20085:31 am 

    do you still have a pro file on 'Ric h k iss.co m'? I saw it days ago. And there were many nice pics of you. I love them. Are you still there?

  3. J - NYU says:
    Fri, 11th Jul 20085:59 am 

    I mean, are you talking to the tree man, "move"??

    Because if so. …Ew.

  4. Nina says:
    Fri, 11th Jul 200810:24 am 

    That Picture is VERY disturbing..

  5. Myra says:
    Fri, 11th Jul 20085:31 pm 

    lol seriously… can you censor that pic or warn first I freakin almost vomited and i was eating too… sigh…

  6. Ashley says:
    Sat, 12th Jul 20084:21 am 

    I was actually just 'diagnosed' with HPV this week. Since being told I had it, I've done tons of research–through conversations with my doctor and the (gasp) internet. Turns out that 80% of sexually active people get hpv. And Guardisil only 'guards' against 4 out of 100 strands. Reports are in that even if you do spit out the cash for the vaccine, it's very unlikely that you still WON'T get hpv eventually in your lifetime. Why is everyone calling it an std? You can get it through kissing, according to recent studies. To me, it's starting to seem a lot less like an std and a lot more like a cold that people should know about because it can develop into something much more serious.

  7. Heather says:
    Mon, 14th Jul 200810:59 am 

    Even though it only protects against 4 strains, it is the more common ones. Even so, don't you want to reduce your chances?

    Personal story to convince you all…

    I had stage 1 cervical precancer, and when I got tested, I tested negative for HPV (to find out later other women in my family have cervical cancer, so there you go now).

    I'll just say that the treatment for cervical cancer, which happens to 70% of those who get HPV, is horrible. I had two biopsies of my cervix, which were dont without anasthesia, and was the worst pain I've ever felt in my life.

    That good enough reason for all of ya to go get some Gardisil?

    And btw, that picture totally freaked me out. I feel so bad for him.

  8. steve says:
    Wed, 13th Aug 20086:16 am 

    This village of infected people is not a virus!!! Its a government test of germ warfare. Think about it……..an isolated village is a perfect place to test.

  9. Saurabh Singh says:
    Thu, 26th Aug 201012:14 am 

    Dear All,

    Its true that now a days we are very much focussing on HIV/AIDS but this tree men is an absolute example of RTI/STI.infection that is HPV.In todays world we have to sensitize yound generation about RTI/STIs.From varoious rearch it is found that those person who have RTI/STIs will have twice or thrice time chances of suffering of HIV/AIDS if engaged in risky sex or sex with more then one partener.Therefore in order to prevent AIDS it is very important for knowledge,awarness and early diagnosis and treatment of RTI/STIs otherwise may be in the future the situation wouls become more common as metioned above.(Tree man).

    Thanks

Tell us what you're thinking...