The reactivation risk may increase around age It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the US. The findings may mean that women need to continue routine screening after age Women who started having sex during and after the sexual revolution of the s and s have a significantly higher risk of HPV infection compared to women who did so before About 80 million Americans are estimated to have HPV. Some types of HPV can be dormant for years before someone develops symptoms or finds out they have it.
HPV can lay dormant for many years after a person contracts the virus, even if symptoms never occur. Most cases of HPV clear within 1 to 2 years as the immune system fights off and eliminates the virus from the body.
In extreme cases, HPV may lay dormant in the body for many years or even decades. During this time, the virus is always reproducing within cells, and it can spread even if there are no symptoms.
HPV can spread easily when partners have sex without a condom or other barrier method, even if the virus is dormant. This is because the viral material still lives inside the cells in the area where the virus was contracted.
During sexual activity, a partner may be directly exposed to these cells, which can then pass the viral material into their bodies. The general recommendation is for all girls and boys to be vaccinated at age 11 or 12, but the vaccine can be given as early as age 9, as well as in later years if a person did not receive the vaccine at the recommended age. As of , the only HPV vaccine available in the United States is Gardasil 9, which protects against HPV 16 , 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, all of which can cause cancer, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.
This may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: The HPV vaccine is only preventive. However, researchers are currently studying the value of vaccinating women older than Women who have abnormal Pap test results may be advised to wait and be retested in three to six months, have additional tests to further examine any abnormality, or have treatment to remove the abnormal cells.
By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Yeah, probably not a popular option for most people….. So where does being healthy come in? Your immune system is responsible for fighting off HPV infection, so the healthier it is the more effectively it can do its job. Eating well, exercising, and, most importantly, not taking up or stopping smoking can all help. This includes oral sex and anal sex, not just penis-in-vagina sex.
Not true, sadly. Wearing condoms will reduce your risk of getting the virus , but because HPV can live on the skin in and around the whole genital area, it won't all be covered by a condom. HPV can therefore be transmitted through sexual contact of any kind including any touching or genital to genital contact, as well as oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Smoking is actually a major risk factor for developing cervical cancer. If you smoke, your immune system around the cells of the cervix may be weakened , making it harder for the body to prevent and clear high-risk HPV infections which could cause abnormal cells to develop.
Attending smear tests is just as important if you have been vaccinated or not as it will detect abnormalities caused by other types of HPV. All genders have a head and a neck, so both male and females should be protected by vaccination from HPV and should remember to be aware of the effects of infection. It is true that Far from it; most people will have HPV without any problem.
In order to protect yourself you should make sure you attend your smear tests when invited, get the HPV vaccination if you're eligible, and make sure you know the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.
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