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| HPV and Cervical Cancer |
 | While HPV infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer, in reality it is very rare for HPV infection to progress to cancer with proper treatment. 60 to 80 % of CIN 1 dysplasias resolve on their own, and only about 1% of cases progress to invasive cervical cancer. |
| | More On Cervical Dysplasia and Cervical Cancer |
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| HPV Dating Advice |
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| How Common is HPV? |
 | Studies suggest as many as 80% of people will aquire genital HPV. Several estimates have placed the lifetime likelihood of exposure to HPV in the range of 75-90% though most will not show symptoms. |
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The Great Debate
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Safe Sex. You hear the term all the time. "Practice safe sex!" Recently however, as high up as the white house, the mantra has changed to "Don't have any sex! It will kill you!" Much of this change can be credited, believe it or not, to HPV. After the release by the CDC of the 2004 report to congress on prevention of HPV (here) conservative legislators began a campaign to put labels on condoms warning that they do not provide adequate prevention against HPV. It also started an abstinence only approach to dealing with sexual education by constructing the idea that Sex, even with a condom = HPV = Cervical Cancer = Death. While not totally baseless, (yes, there are deaths from cervical cancer but not in the alarming numbers they would like you to believe) the claims made by conservative legislators seek to undermine the truth about HPV to push their agenda. Lets examine those truths and the role condoms play in HPV prevention.
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HPV does not equal cervical cancer
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The most important thing to realize is that infection with HPV very rarely leads to cervical cancer. Recent estimates by the CDC and others say that up to 80% of the sexually active population will become infected with HPV in their lifetime (Sources). Further, up to 90% of those infected will clear the virus from their body within 8-24 months. (Sources) Mild to moderate Cell changes on the cervix resulting from infection with HPV (known as Cervical Dysplasia) clear on their own in 60-80% of women. For those that do not spontaneously clear the infection, treatment for cervical dysplasia has a 90-99% success rate in removing the infected cells. (Sources) According to an article in Glamour Magazine (July 2004) the incidence rate of Cervical Cancer in the American population is less than .008%. When you consider that up to 80% of women are infected with HPV, it is clear how rare cervical cancer really is.
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Condoms - what they can and can't do
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Condoms provide a barrier between you and your partner during sexual intercourse. HPV is an infection of the skin and is transmitted by skin to skin contact. HPV is not transmitted via semen or vaginal fluid. The HPV virus is very small, but not small enough to penetrate the membranes of a condom. Any part of the skin covered by the condom will not be able to transmit HPV. However, any part of the skin that is exposed (including scrotum, or base of the penis) is able to transmit HPV. What does this mean? While condoms do provide a barrier against HPV they are not 100% foolproof in preventing HPV infection. After diagnosis with HPV condoms should be worn during sexual intercourse. In a recent medical study (abstract), it was shown that "Condom use promotes regression of CIN lesions and clearance of HPV."
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Should I forget about using condoms?
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No! Condoms provide protection against many STD's and pregnancy. The truth is that if you are sexually active, the chances are extremely high that you will come into contact with the HPV virus no matter how careful you are. Lets say you have had 3 sexual partners, and each of them has had 3 partners. Including you, statistically, out of those 10 people, 8 will have had HPV. According to Rutgers University health services "The HPV virus is so common that it can almost be considered normal to have it." (source) While this is alarming, it is also comforting to know that most people are exposed to the virus in their lifetime, and for most it does not cause great harm.
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In conclusion
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While condoms are not 100% effective in preventing HPV, it is unfortunate that scare tactics are used by conservative legislators to promote abstinence only education. They do nothing more than further the stigma of a misunderstood and often times little known virus.
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