#hpv

[reasonsforhope]

"The Food and Drug administration has approved the U.S.'s first at-home alternative to the Pap smear, a procedure generations of women [and nonbinary and trans people with uteruses] have dreaded and often found painful.

The new device by Teal Health will offer a "much preferred experience," the company said in its announcement, and also aims to increase screening rates by making the procedure more convenient.

Traditionally, gynecologists have inserted a cold metal speculum deep into a woman's vagina to scrape cells from the cervix.

The Teal Wand — "built with empathy," the company said — uses a swab to collect a vaginal sample. Women will then mail the sample to a lab that will screen for HPV (human papillomavirus), the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers. A growing body of research has found HPV testing to be highly accurate.

The FDA approval Friday [May 9, 2025] follows a U.S.-based study that found at-home screening was just as effective as that done in a doctor's office. The study also found women overwhelmingly preferred self–screening at home, and said they'd be more likely to stay up to date with cervical cancer screenings that way.

Every year, about 13,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, and more than 4,000 women die from the disease. Rates are down dramatically since Dr. Georgios Papanicolaou published a 1943 paper on how to use the Pap smear for screening, and it then became common.

But about a quarter of women in the U.S. are behind on such screenings, and medical experts say reducing that is key to the ultimate goal of eliminating cervical cancer. There's also a racial gap, with Black and Native American women far more likely to die from cervical cancer than white women. The HPV vaccine for teen and preteen girls, introduced in 2007, has also led to a global push to tackle the disease that way.

At-home cervical cancer screenings are already available in several other countries, including Australia and Sweden.

Teal Health says its self-testing device will be available starting next month [June 2025], in California first and then expanding. It will be by prescription, through a telehealth service, for women 25-65 years old who are "at average risk." The company says it's working with insurance companies to provide coverage."

-via NPR, May 10, 2025

[ayeforscotland]

An absolutely phenomenal stat.

Public Health Scotland: No cervical cancer cases have been detected in women who have been fully vaccinated against HPV. The HPV jag was rolled out to girls aged 12-13 in Scotland in 2008.

[irradiate-space]

I finally got the first shot in my HPV vaccination, which is one of those vaccines that people say, "wait, you didn't get that?" and then go "oh, right" when you tell them that you were not a young post-pubertal woman during the vaccine's initial rollout.

[stylized-corpse]

Tonight in Ottawa!

[goatsludge]

Pre-MSA Paraclete HPV019H Hard Plate Carrier (Standalone) More commonly known as the Paraclete HPV

For those that recall the post I made a long time ago about the HPC w/ Cummerbund, well prepare for something even older. Literally just a nylon sack with PALS webbing, these were the first generation of Standalone Plate Carriers, more impressive in its history than its appearance.

I've been on the hunt for one of these for a while since my HPC w/ Cummerbund had become redundant on account of the MOLLE CVC I also own, and also because I needed an HPV for 2002-2004 era Delta Force impressions.

Thankfully I not only got one in the same size as the hard inserts I have (Medium-Long), but it's also an early version with the MOLLE webbing straight stitched as opposed to bartacked, which is undoubtedly more era-correct for the period I needed this carrier for.

...Now I just need an AWS SF chest Rig that isn't cannibalized lol

[reasonsforhope]

Article

"Every year, over 350,000 women die from cervical cancer and another 660,000 are diagnosed. [Note: Plus trans men and other trans people with a cervix.] As a consequence, children are orphaned, families impoverished and communities diminished by the loss of mothers, wives, daughters and sisters. 

And yet, unlike most other cancers, almost all these cases and deaths can be averted. We have powerful vaccines that can prevent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer; we have diagnostics to detect it early; and we have treatments for those it strikes. With these tools, cervical cancer can not only be stopped; it could become the first cancer to be eliminated. Some high-income countries are already close to elimination, meaning fewer than four cases per 100,000 women.

But in many low- and middle-income countries, these tools are still not available, which is why 94% of cervical cancer deaths occur in those countries. 

In 2018, WHO launched a global call to action to eliminate cervical cancer, which was followed in 2020 by the adoption by all 194 WHO Member States of a Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem. The strategy calls for countries to achieve three targets by 2030: 90% of girls fully immunised against HPV; 70% of women receiving timely screening; and 90% of those found with precancer or cancer accessing treatment.

These targets are not just aspirational, they are achievable, even in low- and middle-income countries.  Bhutan has already reached the targets, the first to do so in the South-East Asia region. 

Since introducing the HPV vaccine in 2011, Rwanda has reached vaccine coverage of 90%, and today announced its national goal to reach the 90-70-90 targets three years ahead of schedule, by 2027. Already, in two districts – Gicumbi and Karongi – Rwanda is meeting those goals. Nigeria, which introduced the HPV vaccine in October last year [2023], has already vaccinated 12.3 million girls.  

We have the tools and the opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer. 

Since WHO issued the global call to action in 2018, more than 60 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine into their immunisation programmes, bringing the total to 144 countries that are routinely protecting girls from cervical cancer in later life. With scientific advances, we can now prevent cervical cancer with just a single dose, which 60 countries are now doing.  

The largest provider of HPV vaccines to low- and middle-income countries is Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which plans to vaccinate 120 million children between now and 2030. But this plan requires that investments in health are sustained. We are also counting on manufacturers to confirm and honour their commitments to provide HPV vaccines to low- and middle-income countries in the coming years, to avoid the supply constraints that held back progress in the past.

But we cannot rely on vaccines alone. The impact of the rapid scale-up in vaccinating girls now will not be seen for decades, when they reach the adult years when cervical cancer typically appears. To save lives now, we must match the increase  in vaccination with increases in screening and treatment. 

Decades ago, as more women gained access to pap smears in developed countries, the mortality associated with cervical cancer dropped rapidly. Today, even better tests are available. Over 60 countries now include high-performance HPV tests as part of their screening programs. Women can even collect their own samples for HPV testing, removing more barriers to life-saving services. In Australia – which is on track to become one of the first countries in the world to achieve elimination – more than a quarter of all screening tests are now done this way...

Several countries are also investigating the use of artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy of screening in resource-limited settings. When women are found with precancerous lesions, many are now treated with portable battery-powered devices, which can be operated in remote locations."

-via The Telegraph, November 18, 2024. Article written by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

[somosprojetoamigos]

Julho Verde alerta para os riscos do câncer de cabeça e pescoço

Julho é o mês dedicado à conscientização sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, uma das neoplasias mais incidentes entre os homens no Brasil. A campanha Julho Verde tem como objetivo alertar a população sobre os fatores de risco, sinais de alerta, formas de prevenção e a importância do diagnóstico precoce. O câncer de cabeça e pescoço pode afetar diversas regiões, como boca, língua, gengiva,…

[certifiedsexed]

hi, kind of an oddly specific question, but if two people who haven’t ever like made out or had sex with anybody have oral/anal sex, is there any need for protection or chance of stds?

Hi! I think I've had this question before actually, believe it or not.

Yes! Specifically because of herpes which you can have without doing any of those things and it's a good idea to know if you have that or not!

Technically, while herpes falls under the definition of STI, it's not always caught or spread sexually and protection can help ensure others don't catch it.

Hope this helps, lemme know if you have any other questions. <3

[notsno]

When he says he’s gonna get tested and vaccinated for youuuu

[princessfaerygia]

aloha mateys. i have a bit of alone time. today i showered! did dishes, swept floor, washed countertops. i am doing laundry again omg hope i don't get on his roommates nerves with all my clothes washing lately but because of the eczema on my legs i peel and pick ive been getting blood on sheets and also using lots of smaller towels to cleanse my legs with soap.

ate four bananas in total today, 2 for breakfast dipped in mixed berry acai almond milk yogurt. 2 for dinner dipped in same kind yogurt. !also! 3 protein darkchocolate peanut butter protein granola bars with lots of dairy cream cheese on top of each. once for breakfast and two for dinner.

so yes i have hpv because i was raped at age 17 at a party. i got blackout drunk and was on my period with a tampon in. tampon was shoved so far deep inside me the next morning i knew something happened i called my then boyfriends dad wtf. anyway. it was by a punk rock kid named cricket. i am not and was not attracted to him whatsoever.

there was this tiny tiny thing on my booty area 8 years ago. i told myself it was nothing and even looked at online pix was freaking out a bit. it's grown in size as of late and i think it has to do with my vaping addiction. because smoking while having hpv can increase your chances of it returning or worsening.

i got more than a few pap smears since i was 17 and they all came out normal. until last february.

well so i haven't told my boyfriend i mean he knows i have hpv cus the test results. aaand i don't see any problem in my actual private area (im anti anal sex)

but it was painful last time during intercourse.. i pray to God i don't have a bunch of hpv thingies in my vaginal area. it doesn't look like i do atleast.

(too much information and possibly nsfw i understand if i am too disgusting for you to observe.)

i do wonder if my boyfriends noticed it and just never said anything, like what the fluff really? he is the type to be sly like that. sometimes i like it like I have this weird ocd compulsion to consistently gulp / swallow hard and hes never said one darn thing about it.

good thing that has lessened, so have my intrusive thoughts and oculogyric crisis.

the other day he threatened to hack all my social media and say horrible distressing things about me. wonder if he knows about my booty thang.

he used to love my booty especially after i got skinnier he'd say "look at that monkey! mine, my monkey!" lol.

i miss my man bein in love w me. tis a great tragedy my hysteria over his abuse will possibly make him homeless. he said there's no way we could have an apartment together again because i would freak all the neighbors out or whatever.

you know in my neighborhood at my parents people are nice to me, say "hey kiddo" or "hey girl how's your dad doing?" and our polish neighbor makes scrumptious polish desserts for us and sometimes we went to gym together or church and watch the choirs during xmastime. one the female neighbors rubbed my back while i cried after long time neighbor had a stroke. when his wife died long ago i gave him yellow roses. one the female neighbors always be trying to give me her old clothes. admittedly i wear her "fruit of the loom" and "hanes" underwear to this day.

anyway mom showed me more pix of her on horses. mom told me make an appointment with planned parenthood asap and she will bring me there and hopefully get this all worked out. but my fear is they will freak out about the rash on my legs.

i thought my boyfriend would be back by now but he's not. i am addicted to him tho he still hasn't gave me massage lately. he said he would last night then passed out. I stayed up til 3:30 am on tumblr. oh my my bad girl i was being.

oh no he calling. selfies in the next post.

[haelhetekevvelakifejezessel]

HPV-hírmondó, 2025. első negyedév

Már egy órája ücsörgök a műtők előtti csöndes váróban, kínomban a képeket nézegetem a falon. Elsétál a folyosón egy ápolónő -- a nevére is emlékszem: Katalin --, köszönünk, majd visszanéz: mi nem ismerjük egymást? De igen, mondom, mindkétszer ő készített elő az altatásos műtéthez, abban a szobában, ott, mutatok a folyosó végére. (És ő volt az, aki a monitoron kukkolt, és berikácsolt, hogy NEM SZABAD INNI!, pedig csak egy kortyot akartam, de ezt nem tettem hozzá, mert különben kedves, rokonszenves nő.) Á, tényleg! És hogyhogy megint itt? Kiújult? Hát, mondom. Rövid együttérző bosszankodásba kezd, majd előkapja a telefonját és bevezet a Kék Krém világába. Neki bezzeg van térereje, jegyzem meg magamban, az az egész épület valami atomburkolatot kaphatott a felújítás alatt (fun fact: abba az alagsorba tévedt és szorult be akkoriban a Pinta, amely felett ücsörögtem), illedelmesen bólogatok, megköszönöm jóindulatú tanácsait, amelyeknek korántsincs vége: valójában csak beszélgetni szeretne egy kicsit, nekem meg időmből épp futja. Néhány további praktikai javaslat után egyszercsak közelebb húzódik, mintegy nők egymás között, bizalmasabbra veszi a figurát, és az amúgy kihalt folyosón is a szája elé tartva a kezét súgja oda tagoltan: "és hát az orális szex is, tudja.. veszélyes!" Kicsit felröhögök, mondom, én mindenféle szexszel felhagytam, azt már nem teszem hozzá, hogy egyébként tán műteni is tudnám már, így, három év vesződés után.

Valamivel később jókedélyű dokikám épp befejezte a lidocain beadását, most még eloszlatom egy kicsit, utána már nem fog érezni semmit. Eloszlatja kicsit, és érdeklődik, érzek-e valamit. Semmit, mondom, nem érzek semmit. Az jó. Ha nem érez semmit, az jó. A magam szórakoztatására megjegyzem: ez sem hangzott még el férfitól a lábaim közül. Higgadtan folytatja a műveletét, aldokija figyelemmel követi az eseményeket az oldaláról, 5-6 másodperc után viszont a mellettem álló műtőssegédnek leesik a megjegyzés, vagy ennyi kellett, hogy elveszítse az önuralmát, és úgy elkezd vihogni, hogy a szemét törölgeti. Ma se keltem már fel hiába.

A doki szerint nem lesz következő (hányszor hallottam ezt!), "most nyugodt", és hirtelen engem is úgy elönt a gátlástalan optimizmus, hogy egy pillanatra eltöprengek, vajon hiányoznának-e ezek a klinikai epizódok, ha egyszer tényleg vége lenne. Viszonylag derűsen sétáltam haza, és jutalmul, hogy nem sírtam hajmosás közben, kaptam magamtól egy gazdag kis szendót a Astorián.

[frameacloud]

Harriet Williamson (April 29, 2023). "Trans-inclusive cervical cancer campaign defies anti-LGBTQ+ hate: ‘We deserve to be screened.’" PinkNews. https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/29/cervical-cancer-screening-smear-test-lgbtq-inclusive-remove-the-doubt/

Update: This news article is about a campaign for cervical cancer screening, called Remove The Doubt. The UK charity running the campaign was called Live Through This. Later, the charity changed its name to OUTpatients, so the campaign moved to their new site. Since then, you can visit the Remove The Doubt site here, which explains to anyone who has a cervix what they need to know about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccines.

[eve-romance]

ummmmm i haven't had a pap smear in a good couple of years due to the pandemic & then just anxiety issues due to past sexual trauma. anddd my doctor's office noticed that, noticed the history of sexual trauma, and sent me an at-home pap smear kit for me to collect a sample and a return mail envelope and everything?????? and let me know it's optional, but if i wanted to do it this way, i could?? i'm kinda wanting to cry, that's so nice and accommodating and cool

idk i just wanted to let people know that this is apparently an option at some places. if you have issues with pap smears like i do, try calling your doctor and see if you can do it this way

[follow-up-news]

Scientists have long considered that the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection, human papillomavirus, or HPV, may be a driver of infertility. Most research about HPV’s potential impact on fertility has focused on women. But in recent years, researchers have increasingly expanded their focus to include the infection’s association with male fertility. A new study from Argentinian researchers has found that the strains of HPV considered high risk because of their links to cancer were not only more common than low-risk strains in a small study population of men, they also appeared to pose a greater threat to sperm quality.

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

The reality? HPV vaccines have decades of data to show safety. They prevent HPV infection AND cancers. There’s a 90% reduction in cervical cancers among women vaccinated before age 17. Men? 50% reduction of HPV-associated cancers like penile, anal, & head and neck cancers.

99% of cervical cancers

90% of anal cancers

70% of oropharyngeal cancers

75% of vaginal cancers

70% of vulvar cancers and

60% of penile cancers

Are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) that you can prevent through vaccination.

The vaccine PREVENTS infection, it does not eliminate an existing infection. That’s why vaccination should be done before you're exposed to any of the included strains (these cause the majority of cancers). That's why ALL KIDS should be vaccinated.

The fact that RFK Jr. claims to care about chronic disease yet undermines a vaccine that literally prevents cancers—chronic and deadly illnesses— is beyond hypocritical.

Worse: he MAKES money off of it.

If he is confirmed as HHS Secretary, he will continue to make money off those lawsuits, even while he controls federal agencies that study, develop, review, & approve vaccines. Let me be clear: RFK Jr. has NO science & health expertise & profits by lying about these topics.

He is a lawyer that preys on vulnerable people to file lawsuits that undermine scientific developments. That’s what he always has been. And if he is given this authority, he will cause irreparable damage.

The HPV vaccine is an incredible development for acute infectious disease AND chronic disease prevention.

And cancer, no less! A category of diseases RIFE with wellness disinformation.

Read about HPV, how it causes cancer, & the vaccine here ⬇️