Podcast: HPV FAQs
Most sexually active individuals are estimated to have one or more infections in their lifetime with the human papillomavirus (HPV) and, not surprisingly, ASHA receives countless HPV questions: What should I tell a partner? Will I always have it? How are HPV tests used? How well do vaccines work? In this episode of our Sex+Health […]
Podcast: All about HPV with Ina Park, MD
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common sexually transmitted infection. So common that most (~80%) of sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point. While it is often harmless, it can cause genital warts and even lead to cervical cancer. In this episode of ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast, Fred Wyand talks to Ina […]
An Anal Cancer Primer
HPV vaccines do far more than prevent cervical cancer. In December 2014, the FDA approved Merck’s Gardasil 9® vaccine for males and females. The vaccine can be used to prevent cervical cancer, of course, but also is effective against HPV-related cancers of the vagina, vulva, and anus. (The vaccine can also prevent low-risk lesions like […]
Making Sense of Pap Tests, HPV Tests, and the New Landscape of Cervical Cancer Screening
It used to be so simple – go for an annual Pap. For generations of women the Pap was a yearly ritual, something of a cultural icon. Invented by Dr. Georgios Papanicolaou, his namesake test has caused cervical cancer rates to plummet in the U.S. and other nations where it’s widely used. It’s no exaggeration […]
FDA Approves a New HPV Vaccine
In December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9® manufactured by Merck and Company. The new vaccine covers nine HPV types: the two low-risk types that cause most cases of genital warts (HPV 6 and HPV 11) along with seven high-risk types (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, […]
Grassroots Hope
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” ― Andy Warhol, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol Danah Abarr needed answers about HPV. She figured others did, too. So she started an organization and a movement. It’s a familiar story: when Danah Abarr first searched for answers to her questions […]
HPV Materials
ASHA offers a unique assortment of award-winning publications about HPV through its online store. Below are selected publications geared more toward individual purchase as well as a sample of patient education brochures designed for clinics, student health centers, health departments, and other healthcare settings. For individuals HPV in Perspective: An essential guide for the newly-diagnosed […]
Support Groups
Support groups provide information and allow participants to share experiences, fears, and feelings with others who are concerned about HPV. The groups listed here are not sponsored or endorsed by ASHA, and are entirely responsible for their activities and the content of their websites. ASHA’s National Cervical Cancer Coalition also provides support to women and […]
Myths and Facts about HPV
There are many myths and misconceptions about genital HPV. We’re clearing up some common ones here
HPV & Relationships
HPV and Relationships The emotional toll of dealing with HPV is often as difficult as the medical aspects and can be more awkward to address. This may be the area where you feel most vulnerable, and the lack of clear counseling messages can make this even more stressful, especially where relationships are concerned. . We […]