Human papillomavirus, are you a statistic?

We've all heard the radio ads, seen the commercials and looked at various advertisements in our newspapers and around campus. The phrase "tell someone" is becoming a very familiar slogan, much like "I'm lovin' it" and "It's all inside." But this phrase is certainly not advertising a juicy cheeseburger or a department store, but rather a sexually transmitted virus, human papilloma virus, otherwise known as HPV. Like most sexually transmitted viruses, HPV is an uncomfortable subject. The thought of spreading a virus via genital contact is unsettling. However, ignoring the issue and pretending we live in a happy, STD-free world is ludicrous, especially when dealing with a virus that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resides within approximately 20 million Americans. According to the "Tell someone" Web site, www.tell-someone.com, HPV is "a virus we should all be concerned about…even though HPV is really common, many people don't know they have it because there often are no signs or symptoms. For most women, HPV clears on its own. But for some, cervical cancer and other consequences can develop." So, what are these "other consequences?" According to the Web site, genital warts, abnormal cervical cells, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer and anal cancer, just to name a few. The Web site lists several facts that everyone should know about the virus. For instance, there are more than 100 types of this virus. Some low-risk types are relatively harmless while others-high-risk types can seriously affect the genital area. In either case, the virus can result in abnormal Pap tests. It is estimated that nearly 50 percent of sexually active people will contract HPV during their lifetime according to the Center for Disease Control. Alarming, I know. Even more shocking is the estimate that 74 percent of the reported cases occur in 15-24 year-olds. If you are even the least bit in tune with reality, you are aware that the last figure is directed at you. And ladies, remember the number 80 because that is the percentage of women who will have HPV by the time they are 50 years of age. The statistics don't stop there, but we will for the sake of our sanity. It would be un-American to drown you with the horrible details of HPV without offering you some form of a solution. Tell-someone.com proposes several ways to stay healthy and protect yourselves from the dangers of HPV. Talk to your doctor. They can educate you on treatments available. Get tested. If you are diagnosed with a HPV-related problem, consider the treatments suggested by your physician. Remember that a condom is one of the best ways to protect yourself from any STD. Perhaps abstinence is the most obvious way to protect yourselves from the virus, but in any case, always keep your body and health in mind. I think I'll be cliché and, in conclusion, insist you go "tell someone" about this virus that is affecting several students within our ISU and Terre Haute Community, alike. Yes, go spread the word about HPV. Inform someone you care about. No, really. Go "tell someone."

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