HPV , or human papillomavirus , is acommon , but difficulty treated STD . It is easily transmitted via intercourse or oral sex , and althoughitcan cause cervical cancer in girls , boys can be affected as well . HPV can present itself as precancerouswarts or lesions in the cervix , vulva , vagina , penis , anus or mouth . Almost all cervical cancer is linked to HPV , as well as respiratory papillomatosis .

Dr . Robert A . Hands , apediatric practitioner in Upper Saddle River , explains why the virus is aproblem . “ It can involve the throat , thelower respiratorytree , and the lungs ,” he says . “ The boys can get the girls ’ disease , and it ’ s very , veryhard to treat .”

Hands explainsthat the warts are not just topical , but can migrate inside from oral sex .

There are more than 150 types of HPV viruses , and more than 40 are transmitted through sexual contact , infecting the anus and genitals . Risk factors for contracting HPV include sexual intercourseatanearly age and multiple sexual partners .

“ Boys can end up with oralcancer

and warts in the mouth ,” Hands says . “ The warts have to be treated , and you have to visit an otolaryngologist .” However , the legacy of HPV can live long after the warts havebeen treated .

“ A lot of people who are infected have no symptoms ,” Hands says . “ A lot of the strainsdon ’ t give you any disease . But , some of the strains can lead to neoplastic activity in the mucus membranes .”

BEST POSSIBLE PROTECTION

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine – rather than the previously recommended three doses – toprotect against cancers caused by HPV . The second dose should be given 6-12 months after the first dose . Teens and young adults who start the series later , at ages 15 through 26 years , will continue to need three doses of HPV vaccine to protect against cancer-causing HPV infection .

Cryotherapy , ora freezing of the infected area to eliminate the warts , is apossible treatment , but there is no actual cure for HPV .

“ Ablation is the treatment which can be surgical , electrical-type therapyorcone therapy ,” Hands says , adding that the patient then needs to be followedthrough their lifetime to keep the warts and spread of the disease at bay .

Since there is no cure for HPV , and teens may not be judicious or aware of the implications of sex early on , the one way a parent can assist prophylactically is by having their pediatrician administer avaccine in the pre-teenyears . Cervarix , Gardasil and Gardasil 9are afew offered .

“ They don ’ t prevent all cervical cancer ,” Hands explains when asked about the efficacy of Gardasil , “ but cover about 70 percent .”

If you are concerned about your child being tooyoung , or too old for the vaccine , Hands says you can vaccinate between theagesof9-26 . It ’ s recommended at 13 and 14 , or even younger .

The key to preventing HPV andany STD is awareness and prevention . Since parents cannot guide their teensand young adults at every minute , at every turn , they might be able to thwart diseases likeHPV with parental prevention , such as vaccines and open communication with children about the risks associated with unprotected sex and sex at ayoung age . ●

– LINDA PERILLO-ZAZZALI

THINKSTOCK