The 6 most frequently asked questions about the HPV virus

Without realizing it, many viruses are around us. One of them is the HPV virus. Of course, if you are infected by this virus, then you can experience health problems. What are the health problems caused by the HPV virus? To know more details about HPV, you should consider the following explanation.

What is HPV?

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a class of viruses that contains about 150 types of similar viruses. Some types can cause warts and some types can cause cancer. This virus attacks the skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as the cervix in women, anus, mouth, and throat.

What happens if I get HPV?

In many cases, HPV will go away on its own and cause no health problems. However, if the HPV does not go away, it will cause warts to form on areas of the body, such as on the hands, feet, and genitals. Warts usually appear as small bumps or groups of bumps. The size also varies, from small to large (as shown above).

Certain types of HPV virus can also develop certain cancers, such as oral cancer, throat cancer, anal cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. The development of this cancer takes years, even decades. The HPV virus that causes cancer is not the same as the HPV type that causes warts.

Can HPV affect men?

Both men and women can get HPV infection. So, don't get me wrong that HPV can only affect women. In fact, certain types of HPV viruses can attack men and cause penile cancer. If you are sexually active, the HPV virus can infect you. This is because this virus can be transmitted through sexual contact or skin-to-skin contact from the genitals.

How can I get the HPV virus?

The HPV virus can be spread through sexual contact, whether vaginal, anal, or oral, with a person who is already infected with the virus. Not only that, HPV can also be spread through the use of "toys" together who have been infected with the HPV virus during sexual activity.

You may not be able to tell if your partner carries the HPV virus or not. This is because people who are infected with the HPV virus usually do not show signs or symptoms of being infected. In fact, a person can have HPV after many years since he had sexual intercourse with an infected person. Most people do not realize that they are infected and pass the infection on to their partners.

In rare cases, pregnant women who are infected with HPV can pass it on to their babies. This causes the child to develop recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), which is a rare and dangerous condition that causes warts to grow in the throat.

How to prevent contracting the HPV virus?

There are several ways you can prevent contracting the HPV virus, namely:

Get the HPV vaccination. Having the HPV vaccination has been proven safe and effective in protecting yourself from diseases caused by HPV (including cancer).
Perform cervical cancer checks (cervix). Routine cervical cancer screening in women aged 21-65 years can prevent cervical cancer from developing.
Use condoms during sex. Using condoms correctly during sexual intercourse has been shown to reduce the risk of contracting HPV. However, condoms only protect the part of your body that is covered with a condom. Transmission of HPV in parts of the body that are not covered by condoms may occur.
Not changing sex partners. This can lower your risk of contracting HPV.
Maintain vaginal cleanliness. An unclean vagina is more susceptible to viral infections. For that, you are advised to always keep your feminine area clean. You can use a special antiseptic solution for the female area to clean the vagina, especially during menstruation and vaginal discharge. Use this antiseptic solution only for the outside of the vagina. There is no need to clean the inside of your vagina because it can kill good germs and actually increase the risk of infection.

When should I be vaccinated against HPV?

As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both men and women should get the HPV vaccine when they are 11-12 years old with two doses of the vaccine (within 6-12 months between vaccines). However, the HPV vaccine can actually be given from the age of 9 to 13 years.

If at that age you have not received the HPV vaccination, then you should get the vaccine before the age of 26 for both men and women. The earlier you are when you get the HPV vaccine, the better. Because, research shows that the immune response will be stronger if the vaccine is given at a young age.

If you received the HPV vaccination at the age of 15 or older, the dose is three times. Given at 0 months (initial / first dose), 1-2 months after the first dose (second dose), and 6 months after the first dose (third dose).