NU 12 by Cancer buster - HPV determination in males

Entrepreneurship
MBAH H04
NU 12 #10 HPV
cancerbuster


Cervical cancer remains the most common cause of death among women with female reproductive tract malignancy in the country. In developed countries, it has been downgraded to third most common primarily due to widespread use of Papanicolau smear which is not being practiced much locally. The good news is we can prevent this type of cancer by having an HPV vaccination. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is believed to be the main cause of cervical cancer and it is acquired through sexual intercourse. Though most of the HPV infections are transient and can regress spontaneously, some may be persistent and high risk types which may transform the normal cervical cells to malignant cells. However, noble it might be, the HPV vaccines available now covers only 2 types of HPV and that it can only prevent about 70% of cervical cancers. There is still a remaining 30% chance of having the tumor. Thus, it is now in the process of adding additional types for a coverage of at least 80-90%.

 Despite the use of this vaccine in the female population, its use in the males remain controversial since we really dont know who among the males harbor the virus and if indeed they are carriers, is vaccination effective enough to control the carriers? I would suggest determination of the HPV virion in the blood or seminal fluid of males to determine their infectivity. How? I will still try to figure it out since our researchers haven't figure it out as yet. 4