[DumpsterDiver]

Interesting article on HPV and the myth being played up about the cancer link

Thanks for the link.

Women Misinformed About HPV-Cancer Link
Media Coverage of HPV Testing Blurs Cervical Cancer Link

SNIP

Stressing the Truths About HPV

In an editorial that accompanies the studies, Bradley J. Monk, MD, of the University of California at Irvine, and colleagues say these studies highlight the public's misconceptions about the association between HPV and cervical cancer.

"Their findings suggest that it is little wonder that the public is informed so inadequately about the virus, the consequences of infection, and the natural history of cervical [cancer]," they write.

The editorialists say that the first step in improving the public's knowledge of HPV is to clearly state the truths about HPV infection, stressing six basic points:

1. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease.

2. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease.

3. The overwhelming majority of women with HPV will not develop cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is an extremely rare complication of a common infection.

4. The spontaneous resolution of HPV is common [HPV infection often goes away on its own without treatment].

5. Most women who test positive for high-risk HPV will not be diagnosed with cervical cancer or a precancerous condition upon further evaluation.

6. The purpose of a Pap smear is to detect HPV-related lesions, including cervical cancer, and their precursors.

[Sols]

"# HPV is a sexually transmitted disease."

While it is sexually transmissible, not all cases of anogenital warts are from sexual contact. Anogenital warts have appeared spontaneously in children who are not sexually active and who show no evidence of sexual abuse. Some cases are perinatal and others, where sexual abuse and contact have been certainly ruled out, are just "unknown".