HPV-Human Papilloma Virus
Statistics and Facts
- HPV is the most common STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease.)
- There are more than 40 different strains/types of HPV that infect the genital region.
- A person can not see HPV, just the diseases that it causes.
- Each year 6.2 million people become infected with HPV. There are currently 20 million Americans who are infected.
- 50 percent of sexually active people will acquire HPV at some point in their life.
- There is no test to see whether a person has HPV but it’s important to test and look for signs of the diseases it causes.
- There is no treatment for HPV; however, the body can fight it off naturally. There is treatment for the diseases that HPV causes.
Symptoms
- Women-often women will show no symptoms. It can cause genital warts, vulvar burning and itching.
- Men-genital warts will appear.
Damages
- Women- if the disease is not treated, it can lead to cervical cancer and other cancers of the vagina and rectum.
- Men- if the disease is not treated, it can lead to cancer of the penis and rectum.