Illuminating HPV: An Experiential Learning Activity

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Safer sex education efforts often emphasize the importance of condom use and the adverse consequences of sexual risk-taking: sexually transmitted infection (STI) and unplanned pregnancy. Few programs focus on another important aspect of sexuality education—cancer prevention—although the most common viral STI, human papillomavirus (HPV), is associated with thousands of cases of anogenital cancers yearly. Recent epidemiologic studies estimate that approximately 8 in 10 people will be infected with HPV during their lifetime. HPV poses unique clinical and educational challenges because of its viral reservoir, a large squamous genital field that is capable of harboring subclinical virus, even in the absence of symptoms. By gaining a clear understanding of the HPV viral reservoir, from which condom use affords only partial protection, sexuality educators are given a framework from which to emphasize the importance of routine cancer screening for sexually active individuals. An activity designed to illustrate viral reservoir concepts is described.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: