Throughout our teenage lives, the topic of safe sex is bashed into our heads over and over again. Our sexual education courses sound similar to the scene in Mean Girls, "Don't have sex, because you will get pregnant and die! Don't have sex in the missionary position, don't have sex standing up, just don't do it, okay, promise? Okay, now everybody take some rubbers." Sure, it is extremely important to practice safe sex as a preventative measure against most Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs); however, most don't realize that using a condom isn't 100 percent safe. Safe sex can actually still be dangerous.
The most common STI here on the Homewood campus is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It is better known as genital warts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 100 different strains of the virus, 30 of which are transmitted sexually. The virus infects the genital areas of both men and women, including the skin of the penis, scrotum, vulva and anus and the linings of the cervix, vagina and rectum. The virus can cause warts to appear on the genital areas, usually in a cauliflower shape.
The warts can be single or multiple red swellings on the genital region, and can be flat, raised and varied in size. The outbreak can feel uncomfortable and irritable with itchiness being a dominant symptom.
I'm guessing at this point that you may be disgusted and wanting to put down the paper and continue playing Snood on your computer. But I implore you to continue reading, as three out of every four sexually active individuals reading this will, at one point, be infected by a strain of HPV. Those who are virgins but participate in other sexual activities are still at risk.
The most frightening aspect of HPV is the fact that condoms do not prevent contraction. The virus is passed by simple skin-to-skin contact. Something that is as "innocent" as dry humping carries the risk of transmission. Whenever an infected individual's genital area comes into contact with his partner's, the infection can be exchanged. Since condoms do not cover all the genital areas (this includes the rectal area where outbreaks can occur), HPV can still be passed while practicing safe sex. It's discouraging to think that though you are a cautious individual, one night of fun can result in the contraction of an STI.
Planned Parenthood states that at any point, over 20 million people in the United States are infected with HPV. Here at Hopkins, it is the number one STI that the Health & Wellness Center treats. Most individuals do not show visible signs of the infection. Genital warts will not appear on their bodies. Think of it as a pyramid. The base represents the individuals who will never be infected. The largest portion in the center symbolizes those who have HPV but do not have genital warts. Lastly, the tiniest top area stands for the people who are infected by the virus and show visible outbreaks.
There are many unknown factors associated with the infection. An individual can contract it anywhere between one week and eight months after coming in contact with an infected partner. Infections can last anywhere between six and 24 months, and can consist of an unlimited number of relapses. During this period, an individual can still infect others. Sometimes the virus remains dormant, not producing visible signs and hypothetically staying in the body indefinitely. Of course in this situation, the person may not even be aware that he poses a risk to others, being oblivious to the infection.
The most certain diagnosis of HPV results from the detection of genital warts. For guys, there is no HPV test besides the visual recognition of an outbreak. This isn't as bad as it seems, because for males HPV doesn't cause any major health risks. Conversely, for women, high-risk strains of HPV are directly correlated to the development of cervical cancer. Sexually active women should receive an annual pap smear. An abnormal pap smear may indicate the presence of cervical cancer.
Abstinence is the only completely effective method for preventing an infection. For those not willing to make that sacrifice, continue using condoms! Though it won't fully prevent an infection, it does decrease the risk. Remaining in a monogamous relationship will also decrease the risk of contraction. But there is no direct correlation between sluttiness and the risk of contracting HPV.
The University of Washington found that the virus has infected 80 percent of individuals with four or fewer partners. Health & Wellness offers two methods of treatment: They can freeze the warts with liquid nitrogen, or prescribe an acidic, self-applied removal cream. Neither treatment cures the infection. There is no for cure HPV, nothing to remove the virus from your system. Individuals must simply wait it out.
The great news is that there is now an HPV vaccine for women, called Gardasil. The vaccine, administrated in three doses over the course of six months, is 100 percent effective in preventing the contraction of four viral strains directly related to the development of cervical cancer. Because the vaccine has only been on the market for a few months, some health insurance companies, including Hopkins', do not cover it. At Health & Wellness the vaccination costs $145. It is the most effective for those who have never been exposed to the virus.
It's important to remember that if you have genital warts, you aren't alone. Hundreds of Hopkins students may be infected and many may not even know it. Though it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, it can clear up quickly and poses minimal health risks. Never feel ashamed, because you may have done everything in your power to prevent it. As long as you practice safe sex, you are not to blame.
