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 unmarried 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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