Condoms have been hyped as master-protectors against $exually transmitted infections.
However, health experts are warning
that in as much as condoms significantly decrease transmission rates of the
most life-threatening viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, it’s not
foolproof.
At a meeting of cancer specialists
at the University of Nairobi last week, reproductive health expert, Nelly Mugo,
said that even as we take protective measures using condoms against most STIs including
HIV/Aids, the rubber sheaths cannot provide 100 per cent protection against the
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). “Condoms offer 60 per cent of HPV thus the virus
can spread through skin-to-skin contact with infected areas of the skin not
covered by the condom such as the scrotum, anus, or vulva,” Dr Mugo said.
The 2014 Kenya Demographic and
Health Survey, released last week, shows that male condoms are the most popular
method among $exually active unmarried women. Unmarried men too seem to prefer
condoms as the popular method to protect against STIs. But for a virus whose
disease has no symptoms, the inefficacy of condoms allows for faster and wider
spread, especially amongst those with multiple s*x partners.
The only 100 per cent effective way
to prevent HPV transmission is abstinence from any s*xual contact, including
or*l, an*l, and vaginal s*x. See also: Morning after:That ‘oops’ moment when
women’s emergency pills backfire Since abstinence may not be a realistic
option, Dr Mugo advises remaining monogamous while in a relationship,
vaccination and screening for women. Women can also pa$$ viruses without having
any symptoms.
But the chance of females infecting
men is estimated at less than five per cent of the rates of male-to-female
transmission. There are more than 100 types of HPV and about 13 of these are
cancer causing, with HPV types 16 and 18 causing approximately 70 per cent of
all cervical cancers worldwide. Sadly, it’s physically difficult to tell
whether your partner has the HPV virus unless they have private part warts, yet
those who do not have visible signs can also spread the virus.
The other interesting aspect of this
particular virus is that you do not need to have s*x for it to be pa$$ed on
from one person to another. The virus is found in the flora of the man-hood,
scrotum, vag1na, vulva@, or anus of a person who has the HPV. One can get
infected through kissing or touching an infected s*x organs or through or*l
s3’x.
Since cervical cancer is the leading
cause of cancer deaths among adult women, in the developing world, and the
second most common cancer among women worldwide, preventive measures include
getting a pap smear for women and/or getting vaccinated.
Better still, it’s important that
you be honest with your partner about your s3’x history. Immunizing all girls
before becoming $exually active ideally aged nine to 13 years in order to lower
the risk of HPV took off in Kenya under a pilot project in Kitui County in
2013, targeting 20,000 girls.
No comments:
Post a Comment