Thursday Awareness

Lee and Tami from Hearts Make Families here to help Raise Awareness this Thursday about the HPV Virus. Pass it along, grab the button, write a post and link up. Help us go viral as we explore different charities and diseases and how to help prevent and give!

The HPV virus, or Human Papillomavirus, is a serious issue facing both men and women today. If you look at the commercials, most discuss how it affects women, but men can be carriers as well. Let’s look at some facts…
*an estimated 75% to 80% of males and females will be infected with HPV in their lifetime

*about 6 million new cases of genital HPV in the United States each year
*74% of cases occur in 15- to 24-year-olds
*affects both females and males
*transmission can happen with any kind of genital contact with someone who has HPV—intercourse isn’t necessary
*the virus often has no signs or symptoms
*in women, 2 types of HPV cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases
*in men, HPV can cause genital warts
*GARDASIL is the only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of HPV

Now, here are my facts, still rather new; And something I am not quite sure why I am deciding to share with the entire world. But I do believe that awareness needs to be risen on this subject. I knew of it, but nothing really about it.

About a month ago, I had a friend talk to me about depression and anxiety that I had been facing, I decided to go to a dr and get an annual exam, and talk to her about some issues I was having.  About a week later I got a call from her, letting me know that my pap had come back abnormal. I asked what it meant, and she said she had sent my labs back to find out the specifics, and it turned out that I have HPV with the virus strains 6 & 45, I have been burned, scraped and go in later this month for a more in dept look at things.

Which I am pushing very hard for my sisters to be vaccinated. My mom is not sure about GARDASIL, but one of the strains that I have, could have been prevented. I hope you will all look into getting the shot. Pass this along, and share if you want.