SureFire Women Health

HPV or Human Papilloma Virus is a common infection of the genitals that can be passed via direct or skin-to-skin sexual contact. Anyone can get infected by this virus, regardless of age, race or gender. People who are more at risk are those who frequently have unprotected sex with a number of different people. You don’t even have to have intercourse with an infected person to get the virus.

Oral sex and simply touching the genitals of someone with HPV is an almost sure way of getting the condition yourself. Wearing a condom may help but it is definitely not a guaranteed protection since HPV can be acquired simply by skin contact.

Sexually active teenagers are just as susceptible to this infection, if not more so. Young people tend to have a feeling of invincibility and most of the time, they actually believe that nothing can affect them. This is why it is very important to inform your teenager about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, and provide them with the necessary information and tools to be able to protect themselves.

The most identifiable sign of HPV is the growth of small warts in and around the genitals. In more serious cases, these warts will spread towards the inner thighs and around the anus. There is no pain or discomfort so many people don’t even realize that they are already infected with HPV.

Teenagers today love to party and hang out over at their friends’ house when the parents are away. These events provide several opportunities for hormone-driven teenagers to experiment sexually with one another, sometimes engaging in activities that involve multiple sexual partners. In the heat of these moments, protection from sexually transmitted diseases is definitely the furthest thing from a teenager’s mind.

For this reason, it is important to educate your teenage child before she even starts to think about joining such events. If you make her understand that sexual infections like HPV can lead to cervical cancer for instance, it would surely dissuade her in participating in radical sexual activities.

Hormonal fluctuations during adolescents can increase your teenager’s vulnerability to sustaining sexual infections like HPV.

Strong evidence has already been shown that HPV might be one of the causes of cancers of the vagina, vulva and anus.

The problem can be further compounded if a teenager becomes infected with HPV and gets pregnant at the same time. Not only is this a grave situation in itself, but there is also the risk of passing on the virus to the unborn baby.

If you are a sexually active female who has more than one sexual partner, it would be advisable to go in for a Pap Smear Test. This test will reveal if you have abnormal cells in your cervix. In this case, you will be tested for the presence of HPV.

If your teenage daughter is sexually active, you should advise her to have a Pap Smear Test as well. These examinations are usually not done as a part of the routine physical examinations for teenagers so you will have to request it specifically from your doctor.

Genital warts due to HPV can be treated by applying either of two ointments: Imiquimod or Podofilox. These should be applied directly onto the affected area several times a day. Some ointments like the Podophyllin only need to be applied once every few days, but the entire treatment will last up to two months.

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