Hi #GYNEGirls, #Preggos, & #GENTs! It’s ME again Dr. Drai- America’s OBGYN. I have a #Preggo in Labor so Dr. Drai has to make this blog post quick. By now you know that January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month. In the United States, cervical cancer is the 7th most common cancer among women. There are about 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year AND unfortunately about 4,000 women die each year. These stats make me sad #GYNEGirls. The worst part is that the average age of diagnosis is only 42 years old. That’s too young to even THINK about dying right? Of course I can’t let this month pass me by without talking about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) since it causes cervical cancer. There are 79 million Americans currently infected with HPV and about 14 million people become newly infected each year. Ninety percent of people infected with HPV will clear it from their bodies within 2 years.  The 10 percent with chronic infection are at the greatest risk of developing disease and cancer. Read below to learn 10 Things You May Not Know about HPV. 

1. HPV is so common; you probably had it at some time. Remember 14 million people become newly infected each year with HPV.
2. You can get HPV from touching so abstinence won’t help. This virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin genital contact, sex- oral, vaginal, or anal AND now through shared sex toys. In pregnancy, there’s a small risk of passing HPV to your baby.
3. Most peeps have no signs or symptoms of HPV. The majority of people infected with this virus do not realize they are infected, or that they are passing HPV on to their partners.
4. There’s NO HPV test for #GENTs yet. The fellas are out of luck. Ladies- you have the PAP Smear…
5. HPV causes cancer. This virus is associated with cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and throat.
6. HPV causes warts. This virus is associated with genital warts & plantar (foot) warts.
7. The HPV Vaccine protects you from cancer. You already know this by now especially if you have been reading my blogs. #GetVaccinated
8. Condoms may not protect you against HPV. Sometimes the penis can be sooo long that the condom doesn’t completely cover the shaft. Be careful with those long dongs #GYNEGirls! Just make him leave his undies on during sex. WINK!
9. Don’t blame your current partner, they may not have given HPV to you. This virus can still be present even if years have passed since you have been in contact with an infected person.
10. Stop smoking! Smoking causes HPV to become more active. That’s bad.

Currently, there is no cure for HPV … so PREVENTION is the KEY! No more naked “dry humping”, unprotected sex (vaginal, oral, or anal), smoking or sharing sex toys. I hope you learned at least 5 new things about HPV. Until next time…[#GENTs]