THE HPV (human papillomavirus) is not all about women and cervical cancer. It is a life changer for any sexually active individual, regardless of gender.

Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both sexes, with at least 50 percent of all sexually active people contracting it within their lifetime. It is highly transmissible because one can contract it through skin-to-skin contact and not just through sexual intercourse.

“Almost 80 percent of HPV conditions do not show any symptoms until they are already in the late, dangerous stages. This is problematic because men have a tendency to ignore health problems, more so genital infections until treatment becomes more difficult, costly and in some cases, impossible,” said Dr. Angela Bandola, an OB-Gyne Infectious Disease specialist from the UP-PGH.

Apart from life-threatening female diseases such as cervical cancer, vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer, HPV can also lead to male illnesses such as penile cancer, as well as anal cancer and genital warts that affect both sexes.

The infection can happen in both gender and vaccination remains the most important method to prevent coupled with regular screening and a healthy lifestyle thus may lower the risk of getting the diseases.

Among the unwitting victims of HPV was Walter (not his real name), a 30-year-old manager of a BPO company who developed genital warts from a chance sexual encounter.

Upon discovering the infection, Walter immediately sought the attention of a urologist, who confirmed that he had genital warts. To treat the infection, he opted for chemical cauterization, a painful and costly process of burning the warts off through a special chemical treatment. 

The warts disappeared soon after, but Walter knew that it can re-appear thus, getting one-time treatment is not enough. To help secure his safety from HPV, Walter opted to get vaccinated with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine which helps prevent four types of HPV and, consequently, the diseases that result from it. At present, it is the only vaccine variant that helps address male HPV problems.

“The idea that HPV is purely a female concern is a huge and dangerous misconception, and it’s important that men really know the real deal,” Walter said.

Visit www.helpfightHPV.com to know more about HPV and ways to prevent it.