{"id":1720,"date":"2025-07-11T18:17:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/?p=1720"},"modified":"2025-07-11T18:17:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:17:54","slug":"what-is-hpv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/2025\/07\/11\/what-is-hpv\/","title":{"rendered":"What is HPV?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Human Papillomavirus (HPV)<\/strong> is a group of more than 150 related viruses, commonly spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. Most infections are <strong>asymptomatic<\/strong> and clear on their own within two years, but <em>high-risk strains<\/em> (notably types 16 and 18) can persist and lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and throat.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is the HPV Test Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>HPV is the cause of nearly <strong>all cervical cancer<\/strong> cases, and <strong>7%<\/strong> of those are linked to high-risk types.<\/li>\n<li>Detecting HPV <strong>before symptoms or cell changes appear<\/strong> enables early intervention.<\/li>\n<li>HPV testing is more <strong>sensitive<\/strong> than Pap alone and can be done as:\n<ul>\n<li>Primary HPV testing every <strong>5 years<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Co-testing (Pap + HPV) every <strong>5 years<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Pap test alone every <strong>3 years<\/strong>, depending on age.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Who Should Get an HPV Test?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Age 21\u201329<\/strong>: Get a Pap test alone every <strong>3 years<\/strong>; HPV testing may be considered starting age 25.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Age 30\u201365<\/strong>: Options include:\n<ul>\n<li>Primary HPV test every <strong>5 years<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Co-testing (HPV + Pap) every <strong>5 years<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Pap alone every <strong>3 years<\/strong>, whichever fits best.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Over 65<\/strong>: Screening may stop if prior tests were consistently negative\u2014but new evidence shows older women may still carry high-risk HPV and benefit from continued screening<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Symptoms to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even though HPV is often silent, small changes can occur. If you experience:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bleeding between periods or after sex<\/li>\n<li>Pain during intercourse<\/li>\n<li>Unusual discharge- see your doctor promptly. These can be signs of cervical changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Common Myths vs. Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table width=\"586\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"204\"><strong>Myth<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"382\"><strong>Fact<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"204\">\u274c \u201cI\u2019m too young\/not sexually active\u2014no need for testing.\u201d<\/td>\n<td width=\"382\">\u2705 Sex doesn&#8217;t have to be penetrative\u2014skin contact can transmit HPV. Testing guidelines are age-based, not behavior-based .<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"204\">\u274c \u201cI got the HPV vaccine, so I don\u2019t need screening.\u201d<\/td>\n<td width=\"382\">\u2705 The vaccine doesn\u2019t protect against all high-risk types. Screening is still essential.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"204\">\u274c \u201cNo symptoms = no HPV risk.\u201d<\/td>\n<td width=\"382\">\u2705 HPV is typically asymptomatic\u2014routine screening is key for early detection.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Prevention &amp; Follow-Up<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>HPV Vaccination<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Recommended for preteens (~11\u201312 years old), with catch-up doses up to age 26; some adults aged 27\u201345 may benefit.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Gardasil\u20119<\/strong> vaccine protects against key high-risk and wart-causing strains and has greatly reduced cervical precancers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Safe Practices<\/strong>:<br \/>\nUse condoms and limit partners\u2014lowers HPV transmission but doesn\u2019t provide full protection.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Regular Screening<\/strong>:<br \/>\nFollow age-appropriate intervals for Pap and HPV tests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Wrap-Up<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udccc <strong>Bottom Line<\/strong>: HPV is extremely common yet usually invisible. Persistent infection with high-risk strains is the main cause of cervical and other cancers\u2014but with vaccination and regular screening, it\u2019s largely preventable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take Action Today<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At <strong><em>Erama Medical<\/em><\/strong>, join us for the <strong>Know Your Body<\/strong> campaign\u2014access low-cost <strong>HPV + Pap testing-<\/strong> running till October. Stay informed, stay protected!<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udccd Visit us at Sakumono<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcf1 020 250 171 | 054 031 5915<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udf10https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/ephecareblog\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 150 related viruses, commonly spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. Most infections are asymptomatic and clear on their own within two years, but high-risk strains (notably types 16 and 18) can persist and lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and throat. Why is the HPV Test Important? HPV is the cause of nearly all cervical cancer cases, and 7% of those are linked to high-risk types. Detecting HPV before symptoms or cell changes appear enables early intervention. HPV testing is more sensitive than Pap alone and can be done as: Primary HPV testing every 5 years Co-testing (Pap + HPV) every 5 years Pap test alone every 3 years, depending on age. Who Should Get an HPV Test? Age 21\u201329: Get a Pap test alone every 3 years; HPV testing may be considered starting age 25. Age 30\u201365: Options include: Primary HPV test every 5 years Co-testing (HPV + Pap) every 5 years Pap alone every 3 years, whichever fits best. Over 65: Screening may stop if prior tests were consistently negative\u2014but new evidence shows older women may still carry high-risk HPV and benefit from continued screening Symptoms to Watch For Even though HPV is often silent, small changes can occur. If you experience: Bleeding between periods or after sex Pain during intercourse Unusual discharge- see your doctor promptly. These can be signs of cervical changes. Common Myths vs. Facts Myth Fact \u274c \u201cI\u2019m too young\/not sexually active\u2014no need for testing.\u201d \u2705 Sex doesn&#8217;t have to be penetrative\u2014skin contact can transmit HPV. Testing guidelines are age-based, not behavior-based . \u274c \u201cI got the HPV vaccine, so I don\u2019t need screening.\u201d \u2705 The vaccine doesn\u2019t protect against all high-risk types. Screening is still essential. \u274c \u201cNo symptoms = no HPV risk.\u201d \u2705 HPV is typically asymptomatic\u2014routine screening is key for early detection. Prevention &amp; Follow-Up HPV Vaccination: Recommended for preteens (~11\u201312 years old), with catch-up doses up to age 26; some adults aged 27\u201345 may benefit. The Gardasil\u20119 vaccine protects against key high-risk and wart-causing strains and has greatly reduced cervical precancers. Safe Practices: Use condoms and limit partners\u2014lowers HPV transmission but doesn\u2019t provide full protection. Regular Screening: Follow age-appropriate intervals for Pap and HPV tests. Wrap-Up \ud83d\udccc Bottom Line: HPV is extremely common yet usually invisible. Persistent infection with high-risk strains is the main cause of cervical and other cancers\u2014but with vaccination and regular screening, it\u2019s largely preventable. Take Action Today At Erama Medical, join us for the Know Your Body campaign\u2014access low-cost HPV + Pap testing- running till October. Stay informed, stay protected! \ud83d\udccd Visit us at Sakumono \ud83d\udcf1 020 250 171 | 054 031 5915 \ud83c\udf10https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/ephecareblog\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ephecare"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1720"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1721,"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1720\/revisions\/1721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eramanorgroup.com\/ephecare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}