Essay: Transmission of Human Papilloma Virus

Sample Essay

As mentioned before HPV is primarily spread through sexual contact through oral, anal or vaginal intercourse. Skin contact during the aforementioned activities can also transmit the disease. It is estimated that at least 66% of individuals who have sexual contact with infected parties, whether they show symptoms or not will develop papillomas within 3 months (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2010).

In the United States alone, an estimated 6 million HPV transmissions occur each year. HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer in the United States (National Cancer Institute, 2010). The prevalence of HPV in the United States according to a study among women in the 14 to 59 year old range was found to be 26.8%. They also found that the risk factor for contracting HPV increased with each age from 14 to 24 years with the highest prevalence in the 20 to 24 year old range (Dunne, et al., 2007 ).

A supposition has been made that almost all women will have an HPV infection at some stage in their lives. However, few of them will progress to develop cancer. HPV infections which do not resolve for years are the only types which can lead to cervical cancer. In 2009, women in excess of eleven thousand were diagnosed in the United States and it is estimated that at least four thousand will die from cervical cancer. This disease strikes half a million women worldwide every year and claims in excess of twenty five thousand lives (National Cancer Institute, 2010). It is perhaps particularly unjust that the majority of viral infections occur in women rather than men (Henderson, Yasgur, & Warshowsky, 2002).

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