As far as I'm concerned, I've already covered this topic in the past. But, it's worth revisiting due to it's importance in female healthcare. I covered this topic under the prior heading of HPV. It's because of this viral infection's ability to cause cervical cancer that makes it so important. It's estimated by the CDC that 20 million Americans have been infected with HPV. I'm very concerned about this form of STD due to it's ability to spread through out the population so quickly and silently and cause cervical cancer. This virus is worth reading about and understanding. It is our Number One STD in this country. There is one important way to be screened for this virus. The Pap Smear. If you are not getting your pap smears on a regular basis, you are not being screened. I also offer HPV screening with the pap smear if the patient is concerned about whether she is infected. All the pap smears I do on a routine basis, screen the cytology first and reflex to a HPV test if atypical cells are seen. Not to get too complicated, but the main issue I'm concerned about is whether the patient has been infected with the High Risk HPV. Please visit the site link below for more information and get your pap smears. You might want to encourage young, single, and sexually active females to have this exam if they are not being screened. Doc http://www.hpv.com/
