Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Genital Warts –

This is an important issue for all of us older daters. Since an illustrious past president seemed to regard oral sex as something innocent, too many kids today think of oral sex as a non-issue. Many of them actually think it is safer than having conventional sex. They may be mistaken and so may you!

Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus.

Here are some stats from the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Another 6 million people become newly infected each year. HPV is so common that at least 50% of sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.

Genital warts are highly contagious. There is a 60% risk of getting the infection from a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts. This means you probably have been exposed to this virus if you have had a number of sex partners. Fortunately most cases heal on their own over time.

By having unprotected sex, you risk catching genital warts, a virus that spreads from sexual contact. And it wouldn'[t be so bad if all you got was warts.

HPV (the wart virus), has variant strains ((around 100 different types) some of which cause most cases of cervical cancer. Yes, cervical cancer is a STD.

You get this virus from intercourse. Medicine knows this, yet they’ve done a poor job explaining it to a generation of people who are licking and sucking everything they see.

They recently learned that this virus could just as likely jump from the cervix to the mouth or anus with all the oral and anal sex going on. If it can cause cancer in one mucous membrane, it most likely will cause cancer in others. Penile, anal and oral cancer along with cervical can be caused by HPV viruses.

The incidence of oral cancer is rising in young people and while we used to think alcohol and tobacco were the culprits in oral cancer, a good 25% of patients with oral cancer don't drink or smoke. They now realize that HPV is a factor in oral cancer as it is in cervical cancer.

Just as HSV-1 (Herpes 1) and HSV-2 (Herpes 2) jumped ship to reside in places they didn’t before, this has happen with HPV, too. You could be putting yourself at risk for many types of cancer by practicing unprotected sex.

Symptoms:

• One or more growths on the penis, testicles, groin, vaginal opening, and the vaginal canal as well as the cervix, thighs, or anus.
• Warts may be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. They usually do not hurt.
• Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person.
• Men and women with genital warts will often complain of painless bumps, itching, and discharge.
• Because genital warts often cause no symptoms they may be left alone. However, because they are contagious, it is wise to talk to your doctor about having them removed. About 10 to 20% go away with no treatment after around 3 to 4 months.

  You really have to be careful when having sex in the dating world. More and more people are looking to "just have fun," and they don't realize the risks they are taking by their promiscuous behavior.