Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Cancer
If you have sexual activity you should know that diseases spread through sexual intercourse can cause cancer. First of all, the most important way to avoid that is using a condom every time you have sex. Don’t forget, one time is enough to get a sexually transmitted disease. I strongly recommend a committed, monogamous relationship with someone who does not have a sexually transmitted infection.
It’s the best way to have a healthy sexual life. The United States have the highest rate of sexual diseases in the developed world, and a higher rate than some developing countries. Infection with Human Papilloma Virus is the most common incurable sexual disease in the United States. Twenty-four millions Americans are currently infected. Known as HPV, the virus has been linked to over 90 percent of all invasive cervical cancers, which is the number two cause of cancer deaths among women, after breast cancer. Approximately 16,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in US, and 5,000 women die annually from this disease. In 1960, there were only two significant sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis and gonorrhea. Both are easily curable bacterial infections with no connection with cancer.
Now, there are at least 25 sexual transmitted diseases, the most feared being HIV, genital herpes and HPV. These are incurable, viral diseases, affecting more and more women. The Medical Institute of Sexual Health estimates that 33 percent of all women are infected with HPV. Human papillomaviruses are a collection of more than 70 types of viruses that cause papillomas (warts) on various parts of the body. More than 20 types of HPV are incurable diseases that can infect the genital tracts of both men and women. They can cause genital warts, which are the most obvious manifestation of HPV and indicate a clinical infection.
Most of the time, HPV infections are asymptomatic. Most people infected with HPV do not know it and they continue to spread the disease. HPV infection can cause cervical cancer. Some strains of HPV are considered low-risk (HPV-6 and HPV-11) and some high-risk (HPV-16 and HPV-18), but both can cause cervical dysplasia. Is well known that almost all cervical cancer in the United States are caused by HPV. Other risk factors for cervical cancer include: having sex at an early age, multiple sexual partners who have multiple partners or who participate in high-risk sexual activities, long-term use of birth control pills (more than 5 years), infections with genital herpes or chronic Chlamydia infections.
Cervical cancer used to be a leading cause of cancer death in the US, but it is becoming less common because many cases of cervical cancer are being prevented by regular screenings with Pap tests. So be wise, take a Pap test every six months since you begin your sexual activity until the last day of your life. The pap test will tell you if your are infected with HPV, if you have cervical dysplasia (which is a precancerous lesion) and if you need some treatment to prevent cervical cancer. Pap test can save your life, go to your gynecologist and ask him or her about this test.
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