Condoms have been hyped as master-protectors against sexually
transmitted infections. However, health experts are warning that in as
much as condoms significantly decrease transmission rates of the most
life-threatening viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, it’s not
foolproof.
At a meeting of cancer specialists at the University of Nairobi last
week, reproductive health expert, Nelly Mugo, said that even as we take
protective measures using condoms against most STIs including HIV/Aids,
the rubber sheaths cannot provide 100 per cent protection against the
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). “Condoms offer 60 per cent of HPV thus the
virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact with infected areas of the
skin not covered by the condom such as the scrotum, anus, or vulva,” Dr
Mugo said.
The 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, released last week,
shows that male condoms are the most popular method among sexually
active unmarried women. Unmarried men too seem to prefer condoms as the
popular method to protect against STIs. But for a virus whose disease
has no symptoms, the inefficacy of condoms allows for faster and wider
spread, especially amongst those with multiple sex partners.
The only 100 per cent effective way to prevent HPV transmission is
abstinence from any sexual contact, including oral, anal, and vaginal
sex. See also: Morning after:That ‘oops’ moment when women’s emergency
pills backfire Since abstinence may not be a realistic option, Dr Mugo
advises remaining monogamous while in a relationship, vaccination and
screening for women. Women can also pass viruses without having any
symptoms.
But the chance of females infecting men is estimated at less than
five per cent of the rates of male-to-female transmission. There are
more than 100 types of HPV and about 13 of these are cancer causing,
with HPV types 16 and 18 causing approximately 70 per cent of all
cervical cancers worldwide. Sadly, it’s physically difficult to tell
whether your partner has the HPV virus unless they have private part
warts, yet those who do not have visible signs can also spread the
virus.
The other interesting aspect of this particular virus is that you do
not need to have s*x for it to be passed on from one person to another.
The virus is found in the flora of the man-hood, scrotum, vag1na,
vulva@, or anus of a person who has the HPV. One can get infected
through kissing or touching an infected s*x organs or through oral sex.
Since cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among
adult women, in the developing world, and the second most common cancer
among women worldwide, preventive measures include getting a pap smear
for women and/or getting vaccinated.
Better still, it’s important that you be honest with your partner
about your sex history. Immunizing all girls before becoming sexually
active ideally aged nine to 13 years in order to lower the risk of HPV
took off in Kenya under a pilot project in Kitui County in 2013,
targeting 20,000 girl
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