At a meeting of cancer specialists at the University of Nairobi last
week, reproductive health expert, Nelly Mugo, said that even as we take
protective measures using condoms against most STIs including HIV/Aids,
the rubber sheaths cannot provide 100 per cent protection against the
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). “Condoms offer 60 per cent of HPV thus the
virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact with infected areas of the
skin not covered by the condom such as the scro*tum, an*us, or vu*lva,”
Dr Mugo said.The 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, released
last week, shows that male condoms are the most popular method among
sexually active unmar
ried women. Unmarried men too seem to prefer condoms as the popular
method to protect against STIs. But for a virus whose disease has no
symptoms, the inefficacy of condoms allows for faster and wider spread,
especially amongst those with multiple s*x partners. The only 100 per
cent effective way to prevent HPV transmission is abstinence from any
s*xual contact, including oral, an*l, and vaginal s*x. See also: Morning
after:That ‘oops’ moment when women’s emergency pills backfire Since
abstinence may not be a realistic option, Dr Mugo advises remaining
monogamous while in a relationship, vaccination and screening for women.
Women can also pass viruses without having any symptoms. But the chance
of females infecting men is estimated at less than five per cent of the
rates of male-to-female transmission. There are more than 100 types of
HPV and about 13 of these are cancer causing, with HPV types 16 and 18
causing approximately 70 per cent of all cervical cancers worldwide.
Sadly, it’s physically difficult to tell whether your partner has the
HPV virus unless they have private part warts, yet those who do not have
visible signs can also spread the virus. The other interesting aspect
of this particular virus is that you do not need to have s8*x for it to
be passed on from one person to another. The virus is found in the flora
of the man-hood, scrotum, vag1na, vulva@, or anus of a person who has
the HPV. One can get infected through kissing or touching an infected
s8*x organs or through oral s3’x. Since cervical cancer is the leading
cause of cancer deaths among adult women, in the developing world, and
the second most common cancer among women worldwide, preventive measures
include getting a pap smear for women and/or getting vaccinated. Better
still, it’s important that you be honest with your partner about your
s3’x history. Immunizing all girls before becoming sexually active
ideally aged nine to 13 years in order to lower the risk of HPV took off
in Kenya under a pilot project in Kitui County in 2013, targeting
20,000 girls.
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Title : MUST READ Check Out The Deadly Virus Other Than HIV That Even Condom Can’t Protect You Against
Description : At a meeting of cancer specialists at the University of Nairobi last week, reproductive health expert, Nelly Mugo, said that even as we tak...
