Friday, August 15, 2014

Caution!!






           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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