I recently spoke about dating and sexual wellness on this blog post. It’s not a topic I’ve discussed too
often, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the response on this. I’ve had conversations around
frequently changing sexual partners in my offline circles, and it felt good to extend those
learnings into the blog post and conversations that followed. This post is an extension of the last
one and was inspired by the conversations I had around HPV and sexual wellness.
Not to alarm you, but 80% of sexually active men and women get infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime, which makes it important to keep your sexual wellness on top priority too.
You might be surprised to know that there are over 100 types of HPV. Out of these, typically,
HPV can be categorised as high-risk HPV, i.e the virus that is cancer causing or low-risk HPV i.e
non-cancer causing.
At least 14 of the 100 types are high-risk types.
Most HPV infections clear out on their own. However, in some women, it can cause growth of
abnormal cells to begin in the cervix. If left untreated, these cells may develop into cervical
cancer. [5] More than 95% of cervical cancer is caused due to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Apart from cervical cancer, HPV can cause other cancers as well including cancer of the vulva
and vagina.
Being sexually active has so much more to it than just sexual activity simply having sex. It
requires you to understand what constitutes safety.
So how can you maintain sexual health? Here are some pointers that came up during our
conversations:
Safe Sex Practices
Condoms are convenient since they help prevent the spread of STIs. Dental dams are another
choice you can make while being intimate.
Lubricate
Lubrication is often ignored when it comes to sex, and the friction that lack of
lubrication brings along can cause the skin in and around the vagina to get bruised.
Use lubes during sexual intercourse if you feel you’re not lubricated enough. You only
need to make sure that the lube is either silicon-based or water-based as oil-based
lubes can tear the condom.
Keep a track of your partners
It’s important to understand that sexual hygiene extends to your partners too.
It would be a good idea to keep a tab on the number of partners because if you were to contract
any infection, you would be able to inform the concerned person & take necessary action.
Multiple partners pose the risk of having an unknown sexual history which increases the
possibility of transmission of STIs.
Don’t compromise on routine checkups
You need to schedule regular appointments with your gynecologist for routine checkups.
Procedures like pap smears, cervical screening and blood scans might seem like a task, but
they’re needed to ensure good reproductive and sexual health.
Take care of your menstrual hygiene
Not all products that you use are good for your menstrual health. From plastic in cups to
chemicals in pads, there are a lot of irritants that can affect your vaginal health. We’re all
made differently, and what works for you may not work for someone else. It’s important
to do your research before using a menstrual product, or for that matter, any sexual
wellness product (like creams, lotions, and balms) Don’t forget to change your tampons
regularly. If you’re using cups, wash them well!
Don’t forget the basics
Keep your privates clean! While it’s not required to wash and scrub your vaginal area
with soap, make sure you’re dabbing the area clean after washing. If you’re using sex
toys, make sure those are cleaned thoroughly and stored in a hygienic place. Lastly,
always pee after sex!
Taking care of your sexual well-being can boost confidence, help with boundary setting,
increase your sex drive and in the process help you create a satisfying sex life. Failure to take
sexual wellness seriously will lead to complications that include STIs, with more severe cases
leading up to HPV-related cancers. As we’ve discussed previously, HPV can lead to cervical
cancer, and it is the second most common cancer among Indian women.
Remember that help is available, and if you feel the need to reach out, don’t delay it. If you’re
curious to learn more about HPV and its prevention, check this resource and speak to an
expert, so that you #DontGetCaughtByHPV.
For detailed information and to learn more about the vaccine for HPV prevention, don’t hesitate
to reach out to your trusted gynaecologist!
The Information contained herein is meant for awareness only and not meant to substitute doctor’s
advice. Please speak to your doctor for more information.
Issued in public interest with MSD India.
References
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
Accessed on Oct, 2020
- Cleveland clinic, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): Causes, Testing, Treatment &
Prevention, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11901-hpv-human-papilloma-
virus#:~:text=Approximately
Accessed on 14 Oct 2022. - World Health Organization, Fact Sheet cervical cancer, https://www.who.int/news-
room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer
accessed on 14 Oct 2022 - HPV Information Center, Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2021,
https://hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/IND_FS.pdf
accessed on 14 Oct 2022