Ano Ang HPV? HPV Vaccination?
It is estimated that more than 80% of sexually active men and women will have at least one HPV infection by the time they reach the age of 45.
HPV or the Human Papillomavirus is the most common Sexually transmitted infection.
But what is HPV? Like COVID, HPV is caused by a virus that is acquired through intimate genital skin-to-skin contact, most often during sexual intercourse – either through vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, or digital sex. So transmission is not only limited to the male and female sex, but it can be transmitted likewise from female to female, and so is, male to male.
One reason that this virus is frequently passed on, is because of the fact that genital HPV infection has ZERO SYMPTOMS. This is unlike other sexually transmitted infections or diseases, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, syphilis, and others… where symptoms are present. With HPV… There are ZERO symptoms.
Does HPV cause health problems?
In most cases, HPV infections will be cleared by your body, but in some cases, the HPV infection can cause cancer.
Shown to you is a SPECTRUM of HPV-related diseases in men and women. Annually around the world, in WOMEN, HPV infection causes about 530,000 cervical cancer cases, 18,0000 anal cancer, 8500 vulvar cancer, 12,000 vaginal cancer, and 5,500 oropharyngeal cancer. In MEN, HPV infection causes 17,000 anal cancer, 13,000 penile cancer, and 24,000 oropharyngeal cancer worldwide. So HPV-related cancers are not affecting women only. Men develop HPV-related cancers too.
Shown is the burden of cancer cases attributed to HPV infection by region, cancer site, and sex. ASIA appears to be on the number 1 list…and is found mostly in LESS developed countries like the Philippines.
The Good news is we now have a safe and effective vaccine to prevent it.
The World Health Organization recommends the vaccination of girls beginning at the age of 9 years old up to the age of 14 years, to deliver two doses, shots or jabs. Whereas, for ages 15 to 26 years old 3 doses is their recommendation.
Currently, we have 3 HPV vaccine types, namely: HPV-2, HPV-4, and HPV-9.
HPV 2 protects you from 2 of the 14 HPV-causing cancer. HPV 4 is similar to HPV 2 in coverage but it also protects you from acquiring Genital infection. Genital infections are small warts or a group of warts, that may either be flat or raised, found in the genital area.
Lastly is the HPV-9, which protects you from 7 out of the 14 HPV cancer-causing subtype and genital infection as well. HPV 9 has been found to be up to 95% protective against HPV-related cancers.