Archive for December, 2007
Mention the words sexually transmitted disease during a group conversation and don’t be surprised if no one raises their hand saying “me me me, I have a STD”. In our society, admitting to having a sexually transmitted disease is socially unheard of. Perhaps this is the reason that even though the majority of the population has HPV, no one seems to know much about it. We don’t talk about it. STD’s are something that so and so has, but not us.
 What is important to remember is that whenever we are talking about something new, we create awareness. How many things can you think of that not long ago were unheard of… Then word got out and now everyone knows. It doesn’t matter if the facts have been proven, if not everyone knows the facts. Example: the Earth is round, the icecaps are melting, Milli Vanilli didn’t sing their own songs. Read the rest of this entry »
HPV | 25.12.2007 8:58 | No Comments
Single and infected with HPV? Considering joining a dating website meant for other people with a sexually transmitted disease? Why?
When I first decided I wanted to start dating again I thought a lot about being rejected based on my HPV virus. I considered using a website meant for others infected with STD’s. After doing research and becoming more informed I realized that it was not necessary and that I would try my luck trying to date others using dating sites meant for everyone. In fact I had the best luck with www.craigslist.org
If you have HPV and think that you should use a STD positive dating site consider the following. Dating using STD positive dating sites are not realistic for women infected only with HPV because the majority of men with HPV, have no idea they have it. Men are not tested for HPV and unless they have visible genital warts, they have no way to know if they have the disease. This means that the male members of these sites will either only know they have genital warts, or will have a different STD such as herpes. Read the rest of this entry »
HPV | 24.12.2007 7:04 | No Comments
Choose To Know is a campaign put on by the Digene Corporation (creators of the HPV test) to encourage women to ask that a HPV test be done with the pap smear and to “Choose To Know” if they are at risk of having a high risk strain of the HPV virus. Many doctors are still not ordering a HPV test with the pap smear unless the results come back abnormal. Did you know that you can request that this test be done anyways even without a abnormal result?
  If your pap comes back with inconclusive or borderline results, according to www.thehpvtest.com website, nearly insurance companies will cover the HPV test. If you are over 30, the risk of cervical cancer is high, because of this many insurance companies will cover the HPV test just by asking for it to be done with your pap smear.
 You can learn more about the HPV test and sign up to receive you free Choose To Know Bracelet at www.thehpvtest.com
To see if your insurance company will cover the costs of the HPV test call 1-866-895-1HPV
HPV | 20.12.2007 7:02 | No Comments
I was single when I found out that I am infected with the sexually transmitted disease, HPV. I was also a new mother and the prospect of dating let alone dating with HPV wasn’t even on my radar. One and half years later I was ready to join the dating scene again and start meeting new people. Starting dating after being single for so long is a challenge in itself. Dating with HPV just added to the challenge. How do you begin dating with HPV? When do you tell someone you have HPV? Will anyone be interested in me after knowing I have HPV?
I made the choice when I started dating with HPV that I would only tell someone I have the STD if there was a chance that I would become intimate with them. I did not feel it was fair to sleep with someone before telling them I have the Human Papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer even though chances are my partner would already have at least one strain of the the virus. According to the cdc.gov website, “Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.”
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HPV | 19.12.2007 6:15 | No Comments
 The Human Papillomavirus, or HPV is transmitted from one person to another by genital skin to skin contact. You will not get it from a toliet seat, or from sharing a towel with someone who may be infected. Because HPV is transmitted by skin to skin genital contact, condoms are not a fail safe way to prevent acquiring the HPV virus. Many parts of the areas are still exposed even when a condom is worn. The majority of people already have HPV and do not know it. It is possible to acquire the HPV infection from your very first sexual partner. The controversial HPV vaccine, Gaurdisil is possibly the best method of protection from the virus at this time.
If you are in a monogamous relationship and just recently found out that you are infected with HPV this does not mean that you current partner is cheating, or that it even came from them. The HPV virus can hide in your body for years before showing any symptoms or signs of infection. The majority of the population does not even know they have the HPV virus and may never show any symptoms. Read the rest of this entry »
HPV | 19.12.2007 4:43 | No Comments
Human papillomavirus is a group of viruses that can cause warts or other cell growths. There are more then 100 different strains of the HPV virus. The foot and hand warts for example are caused by a strain of the HPV virus.
More than 30 of these HPV strains are sexually transmitted and affect the genital areas. Sexually transmitted HPV is a wide spread very common virus and most people infected with the HPV virus never even know it. Some of these HPV strains can cause genital warts, while others may cause cell changes in a woman’s cervix. HPV is transmitted by genital contact.
There are 3 classifications to risk of the HPV strains. Low, Moderate, and High Risk. Low risk strains of the HPV virus can result in genital warts. Genital warts are visible growths on the on the genitals and can sometimes have a cauliflower look to them or appear as small skin tags around the genital areas and anus. Read the rest of this entry »
HPV | 19.12.2007 4:36 | No Comments
Such a stigma put on others living with STD’s. Why is this so? Admitting to another that you are living with a STD is not socially acceptable. People tend to look at others with STD’s and see the person in a negative light. This is not right. We should not feel ashamed that we have a sexually transmitted disease.
My name is Stephanie Dow. I am 26 and I live in Washington State. I have a young daughter whom I cherish and a love hate relationship with my full-time job. Did I mention that I have the Human Papillomavirus? I have HPV. Read the rest of this entry »
HPV | 18.12.2007 21:00 | No Comments
