Ms.Lewis
Health and Promotion
March 29,2013
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Many people in America are unaware of sexually transmitted disease and even fewer are aware of the human papilloma virus, which is also known as the HPV. Approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. About 14 million people become newly infected each year. HPV is so common that nearly all sexually-active men and women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. According to WWW.hpv.emedtv.com, “HPV is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States and across the globe. Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with this virus. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year. More than 100 different types of HPV exist, most of which are harmless. More than 30 types are spread through sexual contact. Some types of HPV cause genital warts single or multiple bumps that appear in the genital areas of men and women, including the vagina, cervix, vulva (the area outside of the vagina), penis, and rectum. On the other hand, many people infected with HPV have no symptoms. At least 50 percent of sexually active men acquire genital HPV at some time in their lives. HPV infection occurs as frequently in men as it does in women but certain groups of men are more likely to develop HPV related diseases. For example, gay and bisexual men are about 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual men. Men with weak immune systems, including those who have HIV or AIDs, are more likely than other men to develop anal cancer. Men with HIV are also more likely to get severe cases of genital warts that are harder to treat.” It is really hard to detect HPV because the virus and its symptoms can go unnoticed for so long. One of the virus’s symptoms is Genital warts. Genital warts are growths in the genital area of the body some genital warts appear at the rim of the