Chances are you have been exposed to the human papillomavirus (HPV) and don't even know it. In fact, most adults who have been sexually active have been exposed to HPV, with as many as 20 million Americans estimated to be infected with the genital form of the virus.
It is estimated that as many as 75 percent of the reproductive-age population has been infected with one or more types of genital HPV and up to 5.5 million new infections occur each year.
The good news: In the vast majority of cases, the virus causes no symptoms or health problems.
The bad news: It causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer, which the American Cancer Society estimates will affect an estimated 10,370 women in 2005, killing about 3,710.
In many ways, the issues raised by HPV infection are similar to those raised by genital herpes. Both are incurable and rarely have symptoms. Both can cause medical problems in some women and both have become widespread in this country.
Unlike herpes, however, HPV causes cancer in a small percentage of women and men. In addition to cervical cancer, HPV can also cause cancers of the vulva, penis, head, neck and anus, but these diagnoses are extremely rare.
Moral of the story - Don't go around putting women at risk for cancer. Go to the doctor
and see if you have the kind that can cause cancer and how to deal with your situation.Read more at Women's Health:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/hpv-information#ixzz26tt9LKXF
