🧬 HPV — What Every Woman Should Know

(Dr Rabab Cares 💜)

🌿 What is HPV?

HPV = Human Papillomavirus

It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world.

There are over 100 types of HPV:

• Some cause genital warts (low-risk)
• Others can lead to cervical and other cancers (high-risk)

🔄 Can HPV be positive… and then become negative?

Yes — and it happens more often than you think.

> 💡 Over 90% of HPV infections clear naturally within 1–2 years, especially in healthy women under 45.

This means: 

✅ Your immune system fought the virus

✅ There’s no active infection

✅ Your HPV test can become negative again

Even if your Pap smear still shows mild changes (like LSIL), it doesn’t mean the virus is still there — it just takes time for the cells to normalize.

⚠️ When is HPV dangerous?

If high-risk types (like HPV 16 or 18) stay in the body too long, they can lead to:

• Cervical cancer
• Vaginal or vulvar cancer
• Anal and throat cancers
• That’s why we screen regularly — to catch any early changes before they become serious.

💉 What about the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is cancer prevention.

It protects against the most dangerous HPV types, and it’s:

✅ Safe

✅ Effective

✅ Approved by WHO, CDC, and leading medical bodies

👧 Who should get vaccinated?

Ideal age: 9–14 years (before sexual activity begins)

Catch-up: Up to age 26

In some cases: even up to age 45 (ask your doctor)

🔬 What do the experts say?

CDC: "90% of HPV infections are cleared by the immune system within 2 years."

WHO: "Most HPV infections are transient and asymptomatic."

The Lancet: "91% of infections cleared within 24 months." (Vol 364, 2004)

ACOG: "Most infections clear spontaneously in women under 30."

💬 Final word from Dr Rabab:

HPV is common.

But with good information, routine screening, and vaccination, we can protect our health and our daughters’ futures.

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