Well Now

Throughout the United States, the incidence of incurable sexually transmittable diseases (STDs), such as herpes, AIDS, and condyloma, is on the rise. One of these diseases, condyloma or venereal warts, appears to be linked to the growth of a specific cancer.

Twenty thousand new cases of cervical cancer occur each year, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer among women. The growth of cervical cancer seems to be closely linked to several types of sexually transmitted wart viruses. Most genital warts are caused by viruses that do not cause cervical cancer. However, contemporary medicine cannot usually tell if the warts a patient has are caused by a virus that is or is not associated with cervical cancer.

Condyloma infections now occur six times more often than they did in the 1960s. A person who begins having sexual relations as a teen and/or who has multiple sexual partners increases the risk of condyloma. Thus, for a woman, this means an increased risk of cervical cancer.

Once a cervical cancer has begun through contact with a wart virus, certain factors may promote its growth. Long-term use of the birth control pill and smoking are two such factors. In order to deter growth promotion, one should have frequent check-ups with annual Pap smears, plus early detection and treatment.

Positively speaking, numerous studies have demonstrated that barrier contraceptive methods have protective effects against wart_initiated cervical cancer. Thus, women could receive considerable protection from wart viruses and other STDs if they used a diaphragm, or preferably, a condom, especially one made out of latex.

Up to this point, this article has dealt almost entirely with genital warts and their affect on women. Do not assume, however, that men cannot get condyloma. They most certainly can! Furthermore, as with women, the use of a condom is an effective deterrent to contracting these warts.

Tips for protection against wart viruses (and subsequent increased risk of cervical cancer):

) Use barrier contraception (condoms, diaphragms and spermicidal foams, jellies and creams).

2) Communicate with your partner regarding sexual history and activity.

For added protection against cervical cancer:

) Don’t smoke! Also, eat foods rich in folic acid such as dark-green leafy vegetables, organ meats, whole grains, root vegetables, salmon, and milk. Also recommended are foods rich in vitamins A and C, such as citrus fruits, eggs, cantaloupe, broccoli, and yellow fruits and vegetables.

2) For women: Have an annual Pap smear and watch for symptoms such as bleeding after sexual activity, unexplained spotting between periods, or foul smelling vaginal discharge. Don’t ignore an abnormal Pap smear result. If you have already been treated for genital warts, have a Pap smear every six months instead of yearly.

What to do when you discover you have genital warts:

) Have genital warts removed. It is important that if one partner in a sexual relationship develops genital warts, both partners should be examined and, if necessary, treated. Unless both partners are checked, viral re-infection could occur. Generally, genital warts are pink, cauliflower growths in the moist genital/anal area of women and hard yellowing-gray growths in men. Unfortunately, some people having genital warts may be asymptomatic. In other words, the warts may not be visible. They may be in the vagina or on the cervix of a women or in the urethra of a man.

2) Researchers are now developing new tests that can detect the viruses soon after they enter the body. A woman who tests positively for one of the viruses should be closely monitored by her doctor so that any early abnormalities found in her cervix could be treated, removing the threat of cancer.

For more information, contact: Health Enhancement Services, 753_9748.