What is HPV?

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Posted: Mar 4th, 2016 at 03:21PM - by e7 Health

What is HPV?

HPV stands for Human papillomavirus. The HPV virus causes genital warts (papillomas) and certain types of cancers including cervical and vulvar cancers in females and oral, anal, and pharyngeal cancers in both males and females. HPV is usually spread through vaginal or anal sex with someone who carries the virus, but can also be transmitted through oral sex. The carrier may have no signs or symptoms, but is still able to pass on the virus.

Why should your child receive the HPV vaccine?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Nearly all sexually active individuals will pick up some form of the HPV virus in their lifetime, even if they only have one partner. Each year there are about 14 million newly infected individuals in the United States with 360,000 new genital warts cases and 11,000 new cervical cancer cases in the United States each year.

The HPV vaccine can help prevent HPV that cause certain cancers and genital warts. The vaccine is given in a series of three doses over the course of six months and is approved for children ages 9-26 years of age.

It is important for your child to receive the HPV vaccine early for two reasons.

• Children in a younger age group have shown better immunity to the HPV virus than groups that were given the HPV vaccine at an older age.
• The HPV vaccine needs to be given before any sexual contact occurs in order to protect the child from the disease.

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