Upon reading
Adina Nack’s “Damaged Goods: Women
Managing the Stigma of STD’s”, a significant question moved into the
forebrain. “Has HPV (Human Papilloma
Virus) become the most common sexually transmitted infection?”
Learning, in the reading, that within
the U.S. “an estimated three out of four sexually active adults have human
papilloma virus” was quite a surprise.
The surprise led to one looking further into published details on
HPV.
According to the CDC (Center for
Disease Prevention) website; Human Papilloma virus is the most common STI/STD
[in America], and genital warts are the most common indicator of HPV. Although altogether a different virus than
that that causes AIDS and Herpes, HPV can cause cancer in a number of regions
of the human body, including the throat, vagina, cervix, penis, and anus. Deceptively, HPV can be spread with or
without the presence of genital warts, and is distinctly transmitted via
physical sexual contact between partners.
Recent work indicates that in addition to skin-to-skin contact, damaged
skin can be a precondition of HPV, and that small cuts, and abrasions may also
factor in.
Shockingly (with HPV being the most
frequently contracted STI…), it was learned that HPV tests are only recommended
for women patients over 30 years old, and that the majority of those infected
may be completely unaware of HPV’s presence, and may never develop the telltale
symptoms. No wonder it has become so popular…(?!)…
The Nack article opens up an
important discussion, possible through gathering, and study, of research
data---with women as the primary focus.
Methods shared included personal experience, as well as (a month long
collection of) written surveys handed to patients at a women’s health care
clinic.
The number one listed stigma
associated with HPV is denial/non-acceptance.
The writings of Goffman (1963) are referenced in Kimmel et al (Nack,
2000) mentioning work on deviant stigma, with “the discredited” and the
“discreditable” as qualifiers. The former
would require openly shared, or revealing characteristics of the deviant
situation (in this case presence of HPV).
Where the later, may be less visible, and more difficult to detect. Many HPV infected people, it is suggested,
may use “disidentifiers” (Goffman) to cover, or hide the infection without the
knowledge of others; either through ‘telling stories to cover it up’, or simply
due to the characteristically concealed whereabouts of the contagion.
Additional highlighted stigmas listed
are deception and guilt. The combination
of denial, deception, and guilt that may resonate in the consciousness of many
who contract STD’s, are illustrated quite well in a single quote shared in
Kimmel et al:
No. I never disclosed it to any future
partner. Then one day,
I was having sex with
Josh, my current husband, before we
were married, and we had
been together for a few months,
maybe, and I’m like
looking at his penis, and I said, “Oh, my
goodness! You have a wart on your penis! Ahhh!”
All of a
sudden, it comes back to
me. (Nack, 2000.)
Brining up an interesting
question… Does gender of the infected,
change the probability of revealing, or concealing contraction of HPV? One imagines not. The Nack article does not make a hypothesis
to this end, and this student imagines further research would be required in
order to learn more about HPV, attitudes, and honesty surrounding sharing of
human papilloma virus, as well as other common STD/STI’s.
SOURCES:
Centers
for Disease Control. Genital HPV Infection – Fact Sheet. 2014.
Web. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
Kimmel,
et al; Sexualities: Identities,
Behaviors, and Society. Second
edition. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004-15.
Print.
Mayo
Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: HPV infection. 2014.
Web.
PHOTO:
JBuk,
stock.
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