http://kinseyconfidential.org Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:03:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 2006-2007 aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) posts 1440 Just another WordPress weblog Kinsey Confidential Kinsey Confidential aschweig@indiana.edu No no http://kinseyconfidential.org/wp-content/themes/kinsey/images/kinsey-podcast-300.jpg http://kinseyconfidential.org 144 144 http://kinseyconfidential.org/hpv-genital-warts-contagious/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/hpv-genital-warts-contagious/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:00:19 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=1180 http://kinseyconfidential.org/hpv-genital-warts-contagious/feed/ 0 3:10 HPV stands for the human papillomavirus. There are more than 100 strains of HPV and some of these strains are linked to problems with a ... HPV stands for the human papillomavirus. There are more than 100 strains of HPV and some of these strains are linked to problems with a womanrsquo;s cervix, including cervical cancer. Women and men who have certain strains of HPV may also get genital warts, which can be caused by the virus. People get HPV from sexual contact with other people. HPV can be transmitted during oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex. HPV can even be transmitted from ldquo;dry sexrdquo;, when people rub their genitals together but donrsquo;t actually have intercourse. HPV is extremely common and, although most sexually active women and men have been exposed to HPV from a sexual partner, not everyone who has HPV knows that they have it. For example, as of now we donrsquo;t have reliable HPV tests for men so most men who have HPV may not know that they have it unless they have a more obvious symptom, such as noticeable genital warts. HPV Transmission HPV can be passed to other people during sexual contact. Because of this risk, people who have HPV or genital warts should tell their current or potential sexual partners that they have HPV. Although condoms cannot fully protect against HPV, since HPV is transmitted from skin contact and condoms do not cover all of a personrsquo;s genital skin, using a condom can certainly reduce the risk of transmission. HPV is a very common sexually transmissible infection, or STI. Both men and women can get HPV and both men and women can pass it on to their sexual partners. With time, people who have genital warts often find that they have fewer outbreaks. Also, warts typically do not cause any discomfort or pain. Some healthcare providers do not recommend treating warts as they often go away on their own. Other times, healthcare providers may recommend treatments for genital warts. If you are interested in learning more about your treatment options, ask your healthcare provider for more information. Learn More You can learn more about HPV and genital warts from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionrsquo;s web site. You can also learn more about STIs and other important sexual health information by reading Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Womenrsquo;s Health Book Collective. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/aids-walk-york-kinsey-institute-crisis-positive-change/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/aids-walk-york-kinsey-institute-crisis-positive-change/#comments Sat, 02 May 2009 17:51:13 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=946 http://kinseyconfidential.org/aids-walk-york-kinsey-institute-crisis-positive-change/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/healing-time-genital-cuts-tears/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/healing-time-genital-cuts-tears/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:05 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/qa-healing-time-genital-cuts-tears/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/healing-time-genital-cuts-tears/feed/ 0 2:44 Irsquo;m sorry to hear that yoursquo;ve been in such pain and that the pain has gotten in the way of your sexual activities. Usually A Few ... Irsquo;m sorry to hear that yoursquo;ve been in such pain and that the pain has gotten in the way of your sexual activities. Usually A Few Days Genital and anal cuts and tears usually heal within a few days, though it can depend on their size and severity as well as how you care for the cut or tear as it is healing. Irsquo;d recommend calling your healthcare providerrsquo;s office and asking to speak with a nurse who may be able to provide you with specific suggestions about how to care for the tear. Sometimes genital cuts and tears require special treatment, such as specific types of antibiotic creams, to prevent against infection given how close they are to the anus and any bacteria that may be in the area. Check In With Your Healthcare Provider If the cut or tear does not heal, or if you find that you are relatively prone to genital or anal cuts or tears, I would highly recommend checking in with your healthcare provider. Some people have certain skin conditions that result in sensitive, fragile skin that can easily be torn or irritated. There are treatments available for some of these conditions that help to make onersquo;s skin stronger again and less likely to tear. Modify How You Have Sex Irsquo;m not sure how you got the cut in the first place, but if you originally got it during sex, then you might consider whether there are ways that you can modify your sex to make cuts and tears less likely. For example, you might consider using a water-based lubricant during sex to reduce friction or try positions or intensities of sex that are more comfortable for you. Recommended Reading Finally, you might find it helpful to read The V Book: A Doctorrsquo;s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health which provides information about genital health, including genital tearing. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/differences-hpv-hiv/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/differences-hpv-hiv/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:43 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/qa-difference-hpv-hiv/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/differences-hpv-hiv/feed/ 0 3:26 Great question ndash; the fact that the acronyms HPV and HIV sound similar to each other is confusing for many people. Some people worry that they ... Great question ndash; the fact that the acronyms HPV and HIV sound similar to each other is confusing for many people. Some people worry that they are the same infection. Other times, people may worry that if they have one sexually transmissible infection, or STI, then theyrsquo;ll automatically get another STI. Neither of these are true. The letters HPV stand for the human papillomavirus while HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. They are two completely different viruses and there are important differences between them. HPV: The Human Papillomavirus Most sexually active people are exposed to HPV at some point in their lives; some estimates suggest that as many as 60 to 80% of American women and men will get at least one strain of HPV during their lives. Although HPV has been linked with serious health problems such as cervical cancer, penile cancer and oral cancers, most people who have HPV will not have any serious or life-threatening problems related to HPV infection. In fact, it seems that most peoplersquo;s bodies are able to clear signs of HPV infection with one or two years of getting HPV. That said, if you are diagnosed with HPV, you should follow your healthcare providerrsquo;s recommendation for follow-up care. For women who receive an abnormal Pap test related to HPV infection, this sometimes means having follow-up Pap tests every 3 or 6 months for a while or as recommended by onersquo;s healthcare provider. HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV ndash; on the other hand - is far less common in the United States although it is more common in some countries within sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Russia and China. HIV is often known as the virus that causes AIDS. When a person is infected with HIV, he or she typically requires much more frequent and specialized healthcare services than people with other STIs need. HIV, if it leads to AIDS and to serious opportunistic infections, can ultimately contribute to a personrsquo;s early death, so good healthcare is critical. Fortunately, given advances with testing and treatment for HIV, more people with HIV are living longer, healthy, productive lives. Learn More You can learn more about both HPV and HIV ndash; as well as testing and treating information for each ndash; on the web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Include,in,Resources,,Podcast,,Special aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/cases-criminal-hiv-infection/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/cases-criminal-hiv-infection/#comments Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:17:35 +0000 Natalie Ingraham (M.P.H.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=965 http://kinseyconfidential.org/cases-criminal-hiv-infection/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/genital-warts-treatment-hpv-transmission/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/genital-warts-treatment-hpv-transmission/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:57 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=434 http://kinseyconfidential.org/genital-warts-treatment-hpv-transmission/feed/ 0 3:23 The human papillomavirus - referred to as HPV - has more than 100 strains. Some strains can cause genital warts, as you have. In many ... The human papillomavirus - referred to as HPV - has more than 100 strains. Some strains can cause genital warts, as you have. In many cases, the warts are visible, as has happened to you. Men who have genital warts may notice them on any part of their genitals including their penis, scrotum, anal area, or on the skin underneath their pubic hair. Women who have genital warts may notice them along their bikini line, vulva, anal area or on their mons pubis, which is the triangular area where pubic hair commonly grows Many May Not Even Notice Genital Warts In many cases, however, women and men who have genital warts may not even notice them. The warts themselves may look more like small pimples, or else they may be so small that they are not easily seen with the naked eye. Other strains of HPV do not cause warts, or are unlikely to cause warts, but they may be associated with an increased risk of cancers of the cervix, vulva, penis or anus. Please note that this does not mean that if you have HPV, that you will also get cancer. In fact, most people who HPV never get any of these types of cancers. It has been estimated that 60 to 80% of sexually active women and men will get HPV at some point in their lives, and yet most people's immune systems will clear the infection over time. HPV And Cancer Risk HPV can certainly increase a person's risk of these cancers, but the development of cancer is complex and a person's risk is influenced by a number of factors including their genes, their general health, and other lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can increase the risk of most cancers. Treatment Options In terms of treatment for genital warts, it varies. Many healthcare providers prefer a "wait and see" approach to genital warts, as they often go away on their own. Other times, healthcare providers may prescribe a topical treatment, which comes as a cream that women or men can apply to their warts in the privacy of their own home. Over time, the cream may help the warts to go away. Other treatments are available in-office that can help to clear warts, and you should ask your healthcare provider what treatment approach may be right for you. HPV Transmission As for transmission, it is indeed possible to pass the HPV strains to a partner even if you don't have visible warts. Because of this, it would be wise, caring and responsible of you to let past, present and future partners know about your HPV status. Condoms can reduce, but not completely prevent, HPV transmission. Learn More To learn more about HPV, visit the Kinsey Confidential STI Resource Pages or the web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/gave-partner-genital-herpes/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/gave-partner-genital-herpes/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:00:39 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/06/12/qa-i-gave-my-partner-herpes/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/gave-partner-genital-herpes/feed/ 0 3:07 Thanks for your question. Many women and men find it challenging or embarrassing to talk about sexually transmissible infections ndash; also called STIs ndash; even ... Thanks for your question. Many women and men find it challenging or embarrassing to talk about sexually transmissible infections ndash; also called STIs ndash; even if they themselves have never had an STI. It can be a more difficult conversation to have, but a necessary one, if one happens to have a STI. STIs Stigmatized Unfortunately, STIs have been stigmatized in ways in many cultures ndash; including here in the United States ndash; that have made some people worry about approaching a potential partner with STI information. In this instance, you chose not to provide your partner with important information about your health, and now he has herpes. We consider Kinsey Confidential to be an information service, rather than an advice service, so we canrsquo;t and wonrsquo;t tell you what to do. Open and Honest Communication However, we would absolutely encourage you to develop open and honest communication with your partner, and to support him in ways that encourage his health. Even though you may be afraid to be honest with your partner, telling him that you have herpes too may help him to feel less alone, even though he may initially be angry with you or feel resentful. It is possible that your relationship will be enormously strained. You two may even break up or decide to stop seeing each other. Then again, being able to make yourself vulnerable to and honest with each other may end up strengthening your relationship over time. There is no way to predict his reaction or what course your relationship may take, however part of being responsible about sexual health involves being open and honest with your partners. Herpes Treatment Scientists have made enormous progress related to herpes in recent years. Treatment is now available that can greatly reduce the risk of outbreaks as well as transmission. You and your partner may both want to check in with a healthcare provider for more information. That said, as far as we have come with treatment, itrsquo;s up to women and men to learn to live with herpes, and to manage it in responsible ways with their sexual partners. Learn More You can learn more about herpes in our sexual health, disease, and STIs resource pages, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or from the American Social Health Association. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No