Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common virus that affects both males and females.
It is transmitted through skin to skin contact. Certain types of the virus can lead to cancer – most notably cervical cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancers. HPV can also cause diseases such as genital warts and pre-cancer.
"Genital warts are usually cauliflower flesh-colored growths affecting the vulva. Warts are mostly the disease of young people," said, obstetrician-gynecologist and gynecologic cancer specialist. "This is because of the changing sexual behaviours of our youth today," she explained.
Dr. Palma, head of the Gynecologic Oncology Section of St. Luke’s Medical Center, shared that in the 1993 Philippine Demographic and Health Survey and the 1998 National Statistics Office Survey, the median ages of first sexual contacts were 21.8 years old and 22.1 years old respectively.
However, in a more recent study, the 2002 Yong Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (a nationwide study of 20,000 adolescents aged 15 to 27 years) revealed the age of "first sex" is getting younger. It showed that 1.2 percent of both young males and females had already engaged in sex before they turned 13 years old.
The figures rose sharply when the study looked into ‘engaged in age before 18’ where it displayed a probability of 12 percent among females and 28 percent of males. The study also showed that 1/5 or 23 percent of young people have engaged into premarital sex (31.1 percent in boys and 15.4 percent in girls). A more up-to-date study of the Filipino youth’s sexual attitude and behavior is needed.
Although not lethal, genital warts are nonetheless a form of HPV (human papillomavirus) infection – just of the 100 plus HPV strains that a young boy or girl can catch.
Generally, 90 percent of HPV infections are transient, asymptomatic, and resolve spontaneously because of the body’s natural defense system. However, for some people, cervical cancer and other HPV-associated diseases can develop.
According to Dr. Palma, the virus can persist. External factors such as smoking, oral contraceptive pills, other STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases), and certain types of HPV contribute to the persistence of the virus. The virus especially HPV 16 and 18 could also lead to cervical pre-cancer and then to invasive cervical cancer.
In 1997, a landmark study identified the human papillonavirus to be associated with cervical cancer specimens taken from different countries by special molecular technology.
Now, data ha shown that about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases are associated with HPV types 16 and 18. The Centers for Disease Control of the United Stateshas published that about 40 percent of vaginal cancers, 40 percent of vulvar cancers, 40 percent of penile cancers, 90 percent of anal cancers, and 12 percent of oropharyngeal cancers have also been linked with HPV.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the Philippines and in the world. According to the 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Statistics, 52 percent of those afflicted with cervical cancer will die within five years of diagnosis.
It is reported that 22,000 out of every 100,000 patients (about two-thirds) were already in the advance stages upon diagnosis. Worldwide, there are 493,243 new cases and 231,000 deaths due to cervical cancer every year. It comprises 12 percent of all cancers in women, while 80 percent of all cases are found in developing countries, such as the Philippines.
Dr. Palma emphasized that screening and early detection of cervical cancer is a key measure to better survival rate. In the Philippines, a Department of Health study in 2000 revealed that only 42 percent of 389 hospitals around the country offer screening/detection services for cervical cancer and a meager 21 percent of hospitals have a cytology technician available for the Pap test analysis.
Pathologists, on the other hand, are available in only 45 percent of hospitals. On the average, it takes a patient 47+/- 11 days to get a Pap smear result.
Dr. Palma added that besides regular screening, early detection and treatment, total sexual abstinence and a life-long mutually monogamous relationship (or having only one sexual partner) can help prevent cervical cancer brought on by HPV.
Through the use of condom may also help reduce the risk of HPV diseases, it is only 70 percent effective. Genital HPV diseases can be acquired through two means: Sexual contact and non-sexual routes. Sexual contact includes sexual intercourse, genital-genital contact, manual-genital contact, and oral-genital contact.
Non-sexual routes include transmission from infected mother of newborn or through fomites, such as infected undergarments, surgical gloves, biopsy forceps.
The world’s first cervical cancer vaccine manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is recommended for girls as young as nine years old up to the age of 26. The vaccine has been available in more than 80 countries and has been recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control. For women beyond that age group, studies are currently underway to include older women in the recommended vaccination age range.
Dr. Palma concluded that the older women may benefit from vaccination. She hopes that more women, particularly the rural folks would be better informed and would also be given more access to regular screening tests and preventive approaches.
Source: Manila Bulletin
It is transmitted through skin to skin contact. Certain types of the virus can lead to cancer – most notably cervical cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancers. HPV can also cause diseases such as genital warts and pre-cancer.
"Genital warts are usually cauliflower flesh-colored growths affecting the vulva. Warts are mostly the disease of young people," said, obstetrician-gynecologist and gynecologic cancer specialist. "This is because of the changing sexual behaviours of our youth today," she explained.
Dr. Palma, head of the Gynecologic Oncology Section of St. Luke’s Medical Center, shared that in the 1993 Philippine Demographic and Health Survey and the 1998 National Statistics Office Survey, the median ages of first sexual contacts were 21.8 years old and 22.1 years old respectively.
However, in a more recent study, the 2002 Yong Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (a nationwide study of 20,000 adolescents aged 15 to 27 years) revealed the age of "first sex" is getting younger. It showed that 1.2 percent of both young males and females had already engaged in sex before they turned 13 years old.
The figures rose sharply when the study looked into ‘engaged in age before 18’ where it displayed a probability of 12 percent among females and 28 percent of males. The study also showed that 1/5 or 23 percent of young people have engaged into premarital sex (31.1 percent in boys and 15.4 percent in girls). A more up-to-date study of the Filipino youth’s sexual attitude and behavior is needed.
Although not lethal, genital warts are nonetheless a form of HPV (human papillomavirus) infection – just of the 100 plus HPV strains that a young boy or girl can catch.
Generally, 90 percent of HPV infections are transient, asymptomatic, and resolve spontaneously because of the body’s natural defense system. However, for some people, cervical cancer and other HPV-associated diseases can develop.
According to Dr. Palma, the virus can persist. External factors such as smoking, oral contraceptive pills, other STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases), and certain types of HPV contribute to the persistence of the virus. The virus especially HPV 16 and 18 could also lead to cervical pre-cancer and then to invasive cervical cancer.
In 1997, a landmark study identified the human papillonavirus to be associated with cervical cancer specimens taken from different countries by special molecular technology.
Now, data ha shown that about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases are associated with HPV types 16 and 18. The Centers for Disease Control of the United Stateshas published that about 40 percent of vaginal cancers, 40 percent of vulvar cancers, 40 percent of penile cancers, 90 percent of anal cancers, and 12 percent of oropharyngeal cancers have also been linked with HPV.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the Philippines and in the world. According to the 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Statistics, 52 percent of those afflicted with cervical cancer will die within five years of diagnosis.
It is reported that 22,000 out of every 100,000 patients (about two-thirds) were already in the advance stages upon diagnosis. Worldwide, there are 493,243 new cases and 231,000 deaths due to cervical cancer every year. It comprises 12 percent of all cancers in women, while 80 percent of all cases are found in developing countries, such as the Philippines.
Dr. Palma emphasized that screening and early detection of cervical cancer is a key measure to better survival rate. In the Philippines, a Department of Health study in 2000 revealed that only 42 percent of 389 hospitals around the country offer screening/detection services for cervical cancer and a meager 21 percent of hospitals have a cytology technician available for the Pap test analysis.
Pathologists, on the other hand, are available in only 45 percent of hospitals. On the average, it takes a patient 47+/- 11 days to get a Pap smear result.
Dr. Palma added that besides regular screening, early detection and treatment, total sexual abstinence and a life-long mutually monogamous relationship (or having only one sexual partner) can help prevent cervical cancer brought on by HPV.
Through the use of condom may also help reduce the risk of HPV diseases, it is only 70 percent effective. Genital HPV diseases can be acquired through two means: Sexual contact and non-sexual routes. Sexual contact includes sexual intercourse, genital-genital contact, manual-genital contact, and oral-genital contact.
Non-sexual routes include transmission from infected mother of newborn or through fomites, such as infected undergarments, surgical gloves, biopsy forceps.
The world’s first cervical cancer vaccine manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is recommended for girls as young as nine years old up to the age of 26. The vaccine has been available in more than 80 countries and has been recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control. For women beyond that age group, studies are currently underway to include older women in the recommended vaccination age range.
Dr. Palma concluded that the older women may benefit from vaccination. She hopes that more women, particularly the rural folks would be better informed and would also be given more access to regular screening tests and preventive approaches.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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