Sexuality Happens

Something that’s talked about a lot in straight communities, but is almost never mentioned in queer communities is HPV (the Human Papilloma Virus), because people seem to be under the impression that lesbians never get it.

Yeah, not true.

First of all, there are the lesbians that at sometime in their life, were sexually active with male bodied people; before they came out, or after. It happens. Guess what? That puts them at risk.

And then there are people that share toys, or play with themselves and then their partner (or vice versa) without waiting to have that nifty little conversation about past history, STI possibilities, when each of their last tests was, etc.

So yeah, every person with a cunt has a possible risk of HPV.

I’ve heard stories (and read studies about) of women who came out to their OB-GYNs and were told that they didn’t need STI testing, or at the very least, they didn’t need a Pap because they weren’t currently sexually active with me. I’m calling bullshit on this one; everyone who has two holes (well, actually three, if you count the urethra…) should be getting a Pap on a yearly basis.

Now, if you’re between the ages of 9 and 26 (and some clinics will give it to people older than that; my friend is in her 30s and had the series), AND you believe in getting vaccinated (many people don’t and that is fine too), I highly recommend Gardasil, which is the three-shot series of vaccinations that prevents against the 4 known types of cervical cancer causing HPV. You can get it at most doctors offices (my GP had it), at your gyno, your local Planned Parenthood, etc. Please note, this doesn’t mean you can just have unprotected sex (um, hello to all the other STIs running rampant, as well as the fact that there are over 100 types of HPV), but it does mean you have a SIGNIFICANTLY lower chance of getting cervical cancer, which gets an A+ in my book.

Interesting Facts About HPV (care of the CDC, Planned Parenthood, and my expensive Master’s):
*HPV is the most common STI in America
*HPV affects female AND male bodied people (male bodied people are far less likely to realize that they have it, and are most often unknowing carriers)
*Areas affected can include the vulva, the vagina, the cerix, the anus and the penis. Oh boy!
*Most people think HPV = genital warts. However, not all of the strands of HPV produce genital warts, so this is a misnomer.
*HPV has also been correlated to other genital cancers, other than just cervial
*Most common way to get HPV is through vaginal or anal intercourse (including shared dildos/cocks)
*Numbers differ, but somewhere between 50% and 80% of sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their life
*Many people’s bodies clear HPV from their system naturally. Crazy, I know.
*However, there is treatment for the cell changes in the cervix from HPV that may lead to cervical cancer, which is why it’s important to get tested.
*There is apparently now an HPV test on the market, which doesn’t actually test in general for HPV, but is part of the Pap smear process (if you so choose), and is far more accurate in detecting cervical cancer (or the cells headed that direction) than just a Pap. There IS NO TEST for just HPV running around your body, not as of yet. See the video about the test below.

Moral of the story: GET A PAP EVERY YEAR! And use protection (which includes covering your toys with a condom, sterilizing them, or getting a new one for each partner). And get the vaccine if you’re into that kind of thing.

The less preachy, more fun part?

I have HPV swag. Wait, that just sounds wrong. I have HPV prevention and education swag!

The first three people who email me with one thing they will do to take care of their bodies today (doesn’t have to be HPV oriented, but it’s important to take care of your whole self), with their mailing address (or their friend’s, or their work’s), will get: a stick of “Choose to Know” (choose to know your status…it’s their new slogan) chapstick, a “Choose to Know” purse/pocket mirror, a “Choose to Know” bracelet, and since I love you so much, 90 minutes of FREE porn (viewers choice of tens of thousands of movies) at HotMoviesForHer.com, home of all kinds of delicious porn.

Want in? Email me at essinem at gmail dot com. Comments about what you’re doing to take care of yourself are also welcome, but see, I can’t send something to a blogger profile, so only the people that email will win stuff.

Want more info? Ask me, look it up at Planned Parenthood, The Center for Disease Control, or if you want it on a cute site, Scarleteen.com.

Take care of yourself, take care of your body.

-Essin’ Em

Video about the HPV test