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Can I Die From HPV?

A sexually transmitted infection with a high-risk HPV virus has the potential to cause life-threatening cancers in men and women. You can decrease your chances of an HPV infection through safe sex practices and yearly medical examinations.

  1. Identification

    • HPV, known as the human papillomavirus, is a common sexually transmitted disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that at least 50 percent of sexually active women and men acquire an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

    High-Risk HPV

    • High-risk HPV strains have the potential to cause lesions that may develop into potentially lethal cancers. Low-risk HPV infections may cause the growth of abnormal cells but do not lead to cancer.

    HPV and Cervical Cancer

    • High-risk HPV infections are associated with the development of cervical cancer. The National Cancer Institute states that an estimated 4,000 U.S. women would die in 2007 as a result of cervical cancer caused by High-risk HPV infections.

    HPV and Other Types of Cancer

    • The National Cancer Institute also reports that HPV infection increases risks for other types of cancer, such as oropharyngeal cancer, cancer of the anus, vaginal cancer and penile cancer.

    How to Prevent HPV Deaths

    • Safe sex practices and regular pap smear screening may prevent HPV deaths. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that yearly pap smears prevent approximately 3,700 deaths from cervical cancer in the U.S. every year.

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