Women’s History Month: HPV Awareness

MARYLAND – March 4th is HPV Awareness Day and WMDT reached out to medical professionals who want to give you some tips to keep you healthy.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They also report that about 80% of women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lifetime.

Dr. Margo Gill works for Atlantic General Hospital in family medicine, with a focus on women’s health. She says this is a very avoidable virus, but there are many forms and can eventually develop into cancer.

She says one can be vaccinated as early as 9 years old. Due to the fact there are no real symptoms, one must be tested to be sure. “What have we seen for cervical cancer in women 20 to 24 years old, has been greater than an 80% reduction in those who have been vaccinated… We have linked HPV as the #1 cause of esophageal cancers, it’s also linked to a number of oral or mouth cancers, and rectal cancers.”

Although HPV is more commonly found in women, men can still contract the virus and should be tested as well. For information about the vaccine or more, talk to your local healthcare provider.