The US health officials are alarmed with the steady rise in the increase of STDs among the citizens living in the nation. Recent studies show that HPV cases, one of the most common STDs in the US, are continually rising even after the nation took several measures to keep them under control. Sexually active people need to understand the potential risk of STDs and go for STD testing to reduce the infection rate in the nation.
HPV, human papillomavirus, is a concerning issue worldwide. It is the most common STD in the world and affects any sexually active person. It is estimated that many people who have sex might have contracted the infection and resolved it on their own. HPV can lead to respiratory papillomatosis and genital warts. The presence of symptoms such as genital warts may not be life-threatening, but they are highly infectious, and they can significantly affect your sexual life.
As a sexually transmitted disease, HPV can be transmitted during sex. But genital contact alone can also lead to infection. It is usually benign and goes away on its own in most cases. However, there can be recurrent infections and can lead to cervical cancer in rare cases. With the growing rate of HPV infection, the best thing you can do for yourself and your partner is to have awareness about STDs and get prompt HPV tests
HPV in the United States
The nation is consistently recording increasing cases of HPV. It is the most common STD in the US, surpassing other STDs such as herpes and chlamydia. In 2015, the nation recorded 1.5 million cases of chlamydia, 23,900 cases of syphilis, 395,000 cases of gonorrhea, and 776,000 cases of herpes. According to the CDC, there are about 42% of people between the age of 18 to 59 live with the infection in the nation. In addition, about 7% of the population accounts for oral HPV. Overall, the estimated population infected with HPV is 80 million.
The CDC conducted a study of the rate of widespread HPV infection for the first time between 2003 to 2006. A similar surge in cases is seen in the current context. HPV is so common that about 80% of all sexually active people may have acquired the infection at least once in their lifetime. Every year, about 14 million fresh HPV cases are reported. The distressing thing about HPV is that most cases are asymptomatic, and people don’t know that they are infected. This leads to a higher number of undetected cases, which eventually leads to increased cases.
In a study conducted between 2013 to 2014 in 18 to 59-year-old adults, the male population outran the female population in genital HPV cases accounting for 45% as opposed to 40% HPV infection in women. As for high-risk HPV that leads to cervical cancer, men account for 25%, while women have a total of 20% high-risk HPV infection. Between 2011 to 2014, 7% of the people between 18 to 69 years were diagnosed with oral HPV, while 4% accounted for high-risk oral HPV.
The 2018 report shows that HPV continues to infect the nation in an upward consistency. The report suggests 13 million fresh HPV cases bringing the total number of cases to 43 million. Public health officials are doing their best to curb the rate of infection. However, the general public should be made aware of the potential hazards of untreated STDs to maintain a healthy sexual life.
Risk Factors of HPV
HPV has several types. Genital warts are the most common symptoms of HPV. But they may or may not be present in an infected person. This makes the infection quite hard to detect without tests. While many of them are harmless and clear on their own, a few types can progress to cancer. It is the main infection related to most cervical cancer cases.
According to world data, the fourth most common cancer in women is cervical cancer. About 91% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. In 2018, approximately 570,000 fresh cases of cervical cancer were reported, which accounts for 7.5% of cancer-related deaths in women. About 311,000 women die from cervical cancer each year. The majority of these deaths are recorded in financially unstable populations.
Nationwide, HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, with about 31,500 cases of high-risk HPV. Over 4,200 women died from cervical cancer in the US in 2013. Men can also develop HPV-related cancers on the throat, tongue, and tonsils. Women who are infected with HIV have a six times higher chance of getting cervical cancer.
Genital HPV was a major threat, with about 350,000 new cases of genital HPV every year before the introduction of HPV vaccines. About one in every 100 people is estimated to have HPV. Cervical cancer affects about 12,000 US women each year. Approximately 4,000 deaths are reported due to cervical cancers even with treatment. HPV can also lead to other cancers, which account for 12,100 and 19,400 cases in men and women living in the US, respectively.
This is why proper care should be taken to reduce the chances of getting the infection. If you live a sexual life, getting screening for high-risk HPV should be part of a routine health checkup. This can prevent complications that might arise from the infection. The use of condoms during sexual activities is effective in minimizing the chances of getting HPV. It is also advisable to protect your sexual health by minimizing sexual partners and having only one sex partner.
HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing the infection from occurring in a person. The CDC recommends that young people between the age of 11 to 12 years should begin the first dose through 26 years of age. Getting vaccinated ensures lesser chances of transmission. Without vaccination, it is possible for every sexually active person to develop the infection.
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