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Summer is a carefree time when people usually worry less than usual about problems or diseases. At the same time, however, this is the time of year when the risk of HPV infection increases significantly – especially among certain age groups. It is worth being aware that our vacation does not mean that pathogens are also on vacation during this time.
- HPV infection can lead to the development of cervical cancer, but not only
- Men are also at risk of HPV-dependent tumors
- Vaccination is the surest form of protection against the pathogen. However, they are most effective within a certain age range
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
What groups of people during the holiday season are particularly at risk of infection with HPV? What are the possible routes of infection? How can you most effectively protect yourself against this threat? About this and other issues related to the HPV virus (otherwise: human papilloma), responsible for over 95 percent. cases of cervical cancer, but also other HPV-dependent cancers, says Dr. Maciej Mazurec, obstetrician-gynecologist, founder, director and doctor of the Corfamed Women’s Health Center in Wrocław.
Who is HPV waiting for?
The human papillomavirus is in no way related to the seasons. However, it is directly related to the intimate behavior of people. Therefore, if during the holidays they differ from behavior outside the holiday period, we are more active in this respect (it is about being active in the form of an increased number of sexual partners), the risk of transmission of the virus increases.
People’s sexual behavior depends on the age group, and more broadly, on the stage in life.
– Young people from 15-16 years of age, but also students and early post-student, i.e. people looking for their place in life, their permanent partners and partners, usually generate a greater risk of virus transmission than people at the stage of a stable life – says Dr. Maciej Mazurec. – They usually go on vacation with regular partners and whole families, which makes their situation diametrically different from that of younger people. These, due to the type of sexual behavior, can be classified as an increased risk when it comes to HPV infection – explains the gynecologist.
The groups that are naturally most open to sexual adventures, i.e. younger and older adolescents, are the most vulnerable to human papillomavirus infection. Therefore, we are talking about people who most often gain their first intimate experiences during the holidays.
A condom does not protect 100%!
Before discussing protection methods, it is worth knowing first about the ways in which virus transmission can occur. Especially since the traditional vaginal intimate intercourse – although the most obvious – is, unfortunately, only one of many possible routes.
– In fact, all intimate behavior is associated with the risk of infection with the HPV virus – explains the gynecologist. – By this we mean all forms of sexual contact, from oral-oral, through oral-genital, oral-anal to genital-anal. All forms of intimate behavior involving the epithelium of partners, allowed in relationships, are therefore a potential route for the entry of HPV into the body. Consequently, a condom does not guarantee complete protection in this case.
So, can it be neglected in the context of HPV? Absolutely not! When it comes to cervical or vaginal infections, if you use condoms of good manufacturers, and the couple have no bad luck in the form of mechanical damage or the condom sliding off during intercourse, it can be an effective protective measure.
In this context, it is also worth being aware of the so-called femidomes, so female condoms. They work by reversing the function of the condom – in this case it is not put on by a man, but by a woman. A female condom is more protective than a traditional male condom. The essence of its correct assumption is that it should protrude beyond the vaginal opening by about two centimeters. The area of protection is therefore wider, with an area larger than that of a male condom.
However, HPV infection does not only affect the cervix or vagina, but also the vulva, anal area, mouth and throat. In these areas, the condom has absolutely no protective effect.
Before you decide to have intimate contacts, make sure it’s safe. Order a mail-order diagnostic test for HPV infection.
Can I protect myself in other areas?
If a condom does not guarantee full protection against HPV, are there any other methods of protection against HPV? Simply put – unfortunately not. Because if the virus can get through even the oral-oral route, during passionate, deep kisses, then the only form of prevention would be simply not to engage in this type of activity with unknown people. It is difficult to talk about any other form of protection in this case.
– As for the intimate area, wherever semen can get into, where there is genital-genital, genital-anal and genital-oral contact, i.e. where there is skin-to-skin or skin-to-mucosa contact, there is potential risk of infection. So be aware that on the physical level, we are not able to protect ourselves to the extent of protecting these areas. This would mean the necessity to eliminate intimate contact … which is what intimate contacts are all about – explains Dr. Mazurec.
Another possible non-gender route of infection should not be forgotten either. After all, skin-to-skin contact does not have to be an intimate contact. It is worth being aware of this, but not at the level of panic. An infected person can transmit HPV even on their hands or clothes and, although these are absolutely non-dominant routes of infection, unfortunately it is also possible to become infected in this way.
Full protection against virus infection is not provided by normal, daily body hygiene, or even disinfectants in the form of preparations based on ethyl alcohol or other. So even using ultra-exaggerated hygiene you cannot fully protect yourself from infection.
– However, it is worth remembering not to approach the extrasexual transmission of the virus in an overly panic manner. Getting infected through the use of shared towels or toilets, although it is potentially possible, is statistically absolutely not as important as that resulting from sexual behavior – says Dr. Maciej Mazurec.
Can you protect yourself 100%?
As it is known, the most effective prevention of all diseases is primary prevention, i.e. preventing the development of a disease. At the same time, monogamous relationships in which both partners have had no previous sexual contact are extremely rare. And only they would be a relative guarantee against HPV infection. Relative, because let’s not forget that there is also a non-intimate way of transmitting the virus.
Therefore, taking into account the realities of our life, it is necessary to focus on an effective method of primary prevention. The one, in the case of HPV, is vaccination. Although they do not protect against all types of the virus, in the case of the types with the highest risk of HPV-related cancers, their effectiveness reaches 90%. As for the types of virus responsible for the formation of genital warts (infection with them annually affects the number of at least 300 million people in the world), in this case they approach 100%. effectiveness. The last argument for the necessity of vaccination should be the fact that their safety and effectiveness in the world have long been proven, as evidenced by the reports of the World Health Organization monitoring vaccinations on a global scale or tens of millions of people vaccinated in the world.
At the same time, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that the optimal time for vaccination is 9-14. year of life. At this age, no child can make an independent decision about wanting to be vaccinated. Therefore, parents’ knowledge and understanding that vaccination against – ideally – nine types of virus, including seven highly oncogenic and two low-cancer causing genital warts, is one of the best investments in a child’s health. Both short-term (associated in this case with troublesome and unsightly genital warts) and considered in the long-term – associated with a significant reduction in the risk of HPV-related cancers – explains Dr. Maciej Mazurec.
At the same time, it must be remembered that there is no 100 percent. an effective form of protection against HPV. It would not even be a situation in which a person would always create a monogamous relationship with another, equally faithful person. However, if medicine allows for such an effective fight against this threat, it is simply worth taking advantage of it.