Encouraging Health

Men: getting circumsised lowers risk of HPV, Herpes and Aids

Circumcision not only protects against HIV in heterosexual men, but it also helps prevent two other sexually transmitted infections, a large new study found.

Circumcised males reduced their risk of infection with HPV, or human papillomavirus, by 35 percent and herpes by 28 percent. However, researchers found circumcision had no effect on the transmission of syphilis.

Landmark studies from three African countries including Uganda previously found circumcision lowered men’s chance of catching the AIDS virus by up to 60 percent. The new study stems from the Uganda research and looked at protection against three other STDs. The findings are reported in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine

An international team of researchers who conducted the study said circumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis, should be an accepted method to reduce sexually transmitted infections among heterosexuals.

“It must be emphasized that protection was only partial, and it is critical to promote the practice of safe sex,” they wrote.

HPV can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Herpes greatly increases the chances of infection with HIV.

The American Academy of Pediatrics previously said there was not enough evidence to recommend routine circumcision of infants. The doctor’s group is reviewing its position based on recent studies. About 2,800 herpes cases in newborns occur in the U.S. every year transmitted from mothers to infants that can lead to disability or death.

FDA requests more testing on women from ages 27-45 for cancer vaccine.

Merck has some more to prove to the FDA if they want to market Gardisil to women ages 27-45.

Currently the HPV (human papilloma virus) Vaccine is marketed and given to girls and young women ages 9-26 (before they are sexually active) against the HPV virus strain that causes cervical cancer. Merck has stated that the vaccine can help women who have already been sexually active against other HPV strains that cause cervical and other cancers, such as anal, vaginal, vulvar. Merck has performed studies on those cancers and HPV on women 27-45, but the FDA has stated that is not enough time.

The FDA has still given approval for marketing and subjection to girls and women ages 9-26, but has not approved the drug Gardasil for men. The vaccine could help prevent males from contracting human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer, and spreading it to females through sexual contact.

HPV, Human Papilloma Virus, is also spread through skin to skin contact, by both men and women, most often causing rash and unsightly warts (which are not life-threatening). The FDA has not approved the vaccine to prevent warts and rashes, though. HPV is easily transmitted and just as easily preventable. By using condoms, dental dams and cleaning the body, HPV can be greatly reduced.

Talk to your doctor or health care provider if you are concerned about HPV and if you are sexually active.

Lately I’ve been reading alot on HPV for research on articles for other clients and have been wondering how many of my readers get tested regularly?

HPV mostly causes unsightly genital warts and rashes (for both men and women), clearing up when the body’s immune system kicks in. Most people don’t give HPV a second thought, or even know what it is. While warts and rashes are a nuisance and unsightly, they are not life threatening. There are numerous strains of HPV, some of which causing cervical, vaginal, anal, penile, throat and mouth cancer.

Even those whom haven’t heard of HPV surely have heard of the HPV Vaccine controversy (see link) that pharmaceutical companies want girls (9-12) vaccinated, to ward off said cancers. Although the cancer’s and vaccine’s outcome won’t be known for decades, how many of you would vaccinate your daughters? How many of you have already vaccinated?

If you’re sexually active, you many not qualify for the vaccine: it’s purpose is to vaccinate against the viruses before getting them. It’s doubly important (especially for men) to get tested regularly, along with the other STD/STI tests. Why? It’s important to get tested so you can get early treatment for any infections. Research has pointed that it’s men who infect women (and other men) with the more virulent strains of HPV that lead to cervical, vaginal and anal cancer.

So, i’ll leave you with this. Please ask your health care provider to regularly test you for HPV along with othe STD/STI’s. You’ll not only save yourself the embarrassment of unsightly warts and rashes, but also potentially save your or someone else’s life from cancer.