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Rationale For Health Issue Of Hpv

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Rationale for Health Issue Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) and can affect many sexually active individuals throughout their lifetimes and is spread through anal, oral and vaginal sex (CDC, 2016). HPV currently affects 79 million Americans with 14 million new cases of infection every year and is so pervasive most sexually-active individuals will encounter some form of the virus during their lives (CDC, 2016). HPV can be troublesome to detect as symptoms can develop years after initial infection or may not be seen at all, but in many cases HPV does not cause lasting health problems (CDC, 2016).
However in some cases of HPV genital warts or even cancer can develop years later; most commonly …show more content…

HPV types 6 and 11 account for 90 percent of all genital warts cases (Dinh, et al., 2008).
Because HPV can vary in its symptoms and go undetected for so long before presenting any symptoms, tracking the disease and preventing some of the harmful effects of cancer caused by it can be difficult if not impossible for those infected. However for those who develop cancer from HPV life can become difficult with health complications and even death. Those with cervical cancer can experience pain during sex, back pain and the treatments which include chemotherapy can be hard on the body (Healthline.com, N.D.). Cervical cancer treatment also includes hysterectomies, which make females infertile (Healthline.com, N.D.). Genital warts can be tender and itchiness causing discomfort for those with the disease (Medicinenet.com, 2015). This can result anxiety and depression for those diagnosed with HPV related genital warts or cancer and embarrassment at disclosing their HPV diagnosis to those they may have infected. There is also a significant cost of treatment estimated at $200 million or $436 per course of treatment in the United States (Dinh, et al., 2008). Although both sexes are affected by HPV, females tend to suffer more from cancers associated with the virus (CDC, 2014). However in 2006 a vaccine that prevents HPV was licensed to be used in females aged 9 to 26 years as a three-shot series (Dinh, et al., 2008). Since HPV is difficult

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