Understanding HPV: Prevention, Vaccination, and Regular Check-ups

🦠 HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause warts and different types of cancer.

📊 Approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 2 men have HPV in the general population.

🩺 HPV can infect the skin and mucous membranes of the oral, genital, and anal regions in both men and women.

🦠 HPV can manifest as benign lesions such as small and imperceptible warts in common areas like the vulva, vagina, and cervix.

📈 HPV is strongly associated with almost 100% of cervical cancer cases and a significant percentage of other cancers, such as anal and oropharyngeal cancer.

⏳ The progression from HPV infection to cancer is not immediate and typically takes time to develop.

HPV has over 150 subtypes, and the subtypes that cause genital warts and cancer are different.

HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including oral-genital, genital-genital, and manual-genital contact.

HPV can be transmitted even without penetration or visible symptoms, and it can be detected through lesions or pre-malignant conditions.

🔍 It is difficult to determine when and from whom one contracted HPV, as the manifestation of symptoms can occur anytime within a span of two months to twenty years after infection.

📌 HPV can be transmitted through sexual contact as well as through objects such as toilets, pools, towels, and intimate clothing.

💉 The most important preventive measure against HPV is vaccination, which can protect against up to 90% of cervical cancers. Vaccination is recommended for girls aged nine and above, boys aged 11 and above, and individuals with certain medical conditions.

💉 HPV vaccine can protect against multiple types of HPV and can benefit individuals who have already engaged in sexual activity.

👫 Using condoms during sexual intercourse can reduce the risk of HPV transmission, but it is not foolproof.

🔎 Regular gynecological check-ups are recommended for women aged 25-64 to detect and prevent HPV-related cancers at an early stage.

🔍 The Papanicolaou test is used for cervical cancer screening.

⚠️ Presence of HPV can be indicated by associated diseases like warts or cancers.

💉 There is no specific treatment to eliminate HPV, but treatments are available for HPV-related diseases.

🔍 Providing accurate and simple health information can lead to faster diagnosis and prevention of diseases.

💉 In England, the HPV vaccine has led to a significant reduction in HPV infection and the occurrence of cancer.

🎯 Vaccinating girls between the ages of 12 and 18 against HPV can prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of cancer.