The Labrador Friendship Centre’s SHIELD Project is proud to launch our #HPVAwareness campaign. Most sexually active Canadians will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime- but HPV vaccines, condoms & dental dams can help prevent HPV spread!
Did you know HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection? Today we’re launching our #HPVAwareness campaign! See resources on our ACT Creations page at lfcshieldprject.ca Did you know HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted infection? Approximately 75% of sexually active Canadians will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. See links for sources & further info.
There are over 200 types of HPV. Some low-risk types can cause warts in the genital area & at least 15 high-risk HPV types can cause cancer. You may know HPV for its link to cervical cancer, but HPV is also linked to cancer of the penis, vulva, vagina, anus, mouth & throat. It can spread through skin to skin contact in the genital region during genital, anal or oral sex. See links for sources & further info.
Vaccination is up to 90% effective at preventing the HPV types responsible for most genital warts & HPV-related cancers. HPV immunization is recommended for Canadians between 9 & 26 years of age. In NL, HPV immunization is offered to Grade 6 students through the school health program. Prior to September 2017 the program included only female students. You can contact your Regional Health Authority for an official copy of your immunization record.
Using condoms & dental dams can reduce the risk of contracting or spreading HPV. If you’re sexually active it’s important to get tested for STBBIs regularly. Pap tests & HPV tests can detect abnormal cells in your cervix that could lead to cervical cancer. A doctor can also examine for warts caused by HPV & for signs of cancers of the penis, anus, mouth or throat.
It is so important to practice safer sex, find out whether you & your partners have been vaccinated, & get tested regularly for STBBIs. “HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection…most of us won’t even know that it happened because it can be quite silent. For some of us it will produce symptoms and for an unfortunate number of us it can lead to cancers. And that doesn’t matter whether we’re men or women or non-binary, it affects everyone.” – Dr. Jennifer Blake, CEO of the Society of Obstetricians Gynecologists of Canada
Sources are from SOGC and Planned Parenthood, NL. Quote from SOGC’s All of Us Against HPV event, recording available on Youtube.