The HPV virus
Last year, the envelope landed on the doormat. I already found turning thirty quite a thing, but having to spread my legs on the table at my doctor’s for the first time was also not something I was looking forward to. But well, it was just part of it, I thought, even though I didn’t really know why that smear test was actually so important. After four months (which I found quite embarrassing), I finally received the results of my smear test over the phone, and thank God the results were okay.
Unfortunately, research shows that that one envelope ends up on the pile and thus in the old paper for many. That is quite concerning, because through a smear test you can find out, among other things, whether you are infected with the HPV virus. The human papillomavirus is a virus that unfortunately occurs frequently, is easily transmitted, and often we don’t even know that we carry it with us. Have you, like me, not heard of this virus before and has that envelope also ended up on your pile? Then here are the ten things you also need to know about the HPV virus.
- 80% of all men and women get the human papillomavirus (HPV).
- The virus is just as contagious as a cold. When you lie close to each other, you can already get it, so a condom cannot fully protect you.
- 700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.
- 220 women die annually from this disease.
- From your 30th birthday, you will receive an invitation for a smear test and can participate in the population screening.
- 30% of women do not respond to the invitation for a smear test.
- Since January 2017, there is a new policy regarding HPV, allowing you to request an HPV home test.
- In 99% of cases, there is nothing wrong when someone is referred, and someone with the virus never gets cancer.
- No clear symptoms occur with an infection.
- In most cases, the HPV infection is cleared by the body’s immune system.
Don’t be negatively surprised by your own body and take a test. Small effort, great reassurance.
