5 Things Every Teen Should Know About Hpv

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There is a lot of talk these days about HPV - from television ads that talk about

vaccinations for young women about the HPV virus - to rumors that it is a sexually transmitted disease like HIV/AIDS and can kill you. It is important for a teen to be armed with a lot of good, accurate information about HPV.

HPV is the "human papillomavirus". You may have heard that it is just a virus that causes warts. That is only half true. The term "papillomavirus" does indeed refer to any one of several strains of the virus that causes warts. When someone gets an outbreak of warts on their hands or feet, that is caused by HPV. But other strains of HPV cause warts, or "lesions" in other areas of the body, such as on the genitals or even internally where they are never seen but may over the long term cause more serious health problems.

HPV is not the same thing as HIV/AIDS. It is a different virus altogether, and results in different consequences and damages to the body. There are more than 250 separate strains - or types - of the HPV virus. Each of these strains behaves differently from the others; in its own unique way it replicates itself and acts upon your body. In most cases it goes away by itself, but in the case of a few strains, it can leave long-term damage. Sometimes, in some people, this damage can eventually lead to cancer.

HPV often shows no symptoms, but it can be easily passed from one person to another. In the case of the strains which cause common warts, the carrier might or might have an active infection visible on their skin. They can spread it to another person by touching that person, or even by touching something that another person might touch. The HPV virus can live on cold, dry surfaces for days. This means that you should keep in mind when you use a public restroom facility, or when you walk across a public shower room barefoot, that you are taking a risk. Keep yourself safe from infection by avoiding contact with surfaces which may be contaminated; cover a public toilet seat before using it, and wear flip-flops in a show room.

If you are sexually active, practice smart sex and safe sex, every time you engage in sexual contact. This means that you should be aware of some basic facts: the Pill will not protect from STDs; you cannot tell if your partner has HPV and you partner may not know whether they have it; condoms offer some protection, but not completely; you can acquire HPV through oral sex or anal sex, and these strains can lead to serious health issues.

If your partner tells you that they do not have HPV, ask if they are a virgin. Because being a virgin (and that includes never having engaged in oral or anal sex) is the only sure way to know you don't have HPV! If you cannot be certain that your partner is a virgin, always assume that there may be HPV virus present, and protect yourself through safe sex!

by: Michelle Anderson

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