HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection that is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are about 100 strains of the virus and about 30 of these strains are transmittable through sexual contact.
According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV and 6 million are infected each year. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire HPV infection at some point in their lives, and hundreds of thousands of girls in the United States develop chronic illnesses from this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, almost all (about 99 %) of cervical cancer cases are related to HPV. Out of 100,000 women who develop cervical cancer, 30% of them will die.
Jessica Lettow, Director of Health Services believes, “students don’t know about HPV because everyone else doesn’t know, due to ignorance or I think people are afraid of talking about sexual health issues. Any section of any population won’t know about these issues unless they are informed.”
In a recent survey conducted by four undergraduate students, reflected that out of 100 students, over 70% of men and 50% of women between 18-26 years of age had never heard of, or knew little if anything about HPV. That’s a problem. With all the information available, and with all the students here having sex, why are we so uninformed about our bodies and silent threats?
When asked about the steps NEIU is taking/should take to inform students about this disease, Lettow’s said, “information through the school newspaper. And we give surveys to students when they come in the Health Services office to see us.”
HPV is likely to be as common in men as it is in women. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected persons are unaware, yet they can transmit the virus to their partner.
Also, for further information regarding HPV please contact NEIU’s Health Services office located at E-051 (below Beck’s Bookstore).
Pool reporting by Doug Bratek, Davorin Lazarevic,
and Todd Johnson