Telling Y'all About HPV

There is a sign up at the gym encouraging me to TELL SOMEONE that HPV causes cervical cancer. So I am telling all of you (though I expect you to know this already.)

Did you know that cervical cancer is caused by certain types of a common virus?
It’s called human papillomavirus (HPV), and millions of people already have it. You could have HPV and not even know it. For most women, HPV clears on its own.
But for some, cervical cancer can develop. Ask your doctor about the importance of Pap tests.

I could question Merck's motivations (especially in the wake of the Vioxx). However, this is really important information. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women. Regular pap screenings are responsible for United States' low rate of cervical cancer.

So now you've been told. HPV causes cancer and if you were ever sexually active (or your partner was) you may have been exposed. Get your yearly Pap smear.

Comments

Wiz Knitter said…
This is important stuff! I am HPV+, and have the particular strain that causes cancer. I get Pap tests every six months since my last LEEP procedure (when they removed some abnormal cells). If you get regular paps, you're fine, because cervical cancer is extremely treatable with early diagnosis.

Of course, HPV hardly affects men at all, so a) it's not in the press, and b) they don't know they have it when they give it to you. It's not always sexually transmitted, but that's the most common way to get it.

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