Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common STD, with an estimated 80 percent of sexually active people contracting it at some point in their lives. HPV is passed by skin to skin contact of the genital area so anyone who has ever been sexually active can have HPV. HPV is highly contagious and is spread through close contact, including sexual contact. For all the French kiss lovers, you might need to rethink when kissing someone that you don’t know their status.
However, both men and women can contract HPV from having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. Most people infected with HPV unknowingly pass it on to their partner because they're unaware of their own HPV status. So, it’s important you go for your test today to be aware of your status.
Most men with HPV never experience symptoms or realize that they have the infection.
If you have an infection that won’t go away, you may begin to notice genital warts on your:
*penis
* scrotum
* anus
Although HPV is common in both men and women, health problems resulting from HPV are less common in men. Three male subpopulations are at an increased risk for developing HPV-related health problems. These include:
*uncircumcised men
*men with weak immune systems due to HIV or organ transplant
*men who engage in anal sex or sexual activity with other men
A positive test result means that you have a type of high-risk HPV that's linked to cervical cancer. It doesn't mean that you have cervical cancer now, but it's a warning sign that cervical cancer could develop in the future.
The primary cancers caused by HPV are:
*cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancer in women
*penile cancer in men
*throat and anal cancer in men and women
Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-related cancer in women and throat cancer is the most common HPV-related cancer in men.
HPV vaccines are available kindly visit the nearest private healthcare facility for more info on the vaccines. The vaccine is to protect you against 90% of the HPV strains that cause genital warts. The vaccine helps to protect you against certain types of HPV that can lead to cancer or genital warts.
The most common side effects of the vaccines include:
*Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given.
*Fever.
*Dizziness or fainting (fainting after any vaccine, including the HPV vaccine, is more common among adolescents)
*Nausea.
*Headache or feeling tired.
*Muscle or joint pain.
HPV vaccine costs N15,000 per session, and a client needs three sessions spanning six months. This translates into N45,000 ($128) in all.
Condom use may reduce the risk for HPV infection and HPV-associated diseases.