Hi there! So, are you watching this new show “Girls”? Y’know, the one that pretty much every single person on the internet seems to be talking about? On last week’s episode, Hannah finds out she has HPV and tries to figure out where she might have gotten it. When she asks the guy she’s sleeping with about it, he gets all offended and tells her he was just tested for HPV. Later, when Hannah meets up with her ex, he tells her there’s no HPV test for guys, so the other guy was obviously lying.
Turns out, Hannah’s ex-boyfriend is right. There isn’t an HPV test for cisgender men yet. And even though HPV almost always goes away without causing any problems, anyone with it can still spread it. HPV is really common, and most HPV infections have no harmful effect at all. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts, and others can potentially cause cancer. Here’s some good news: anybody can get the HPV vaccine. The vaccine works best in people who haven’t yet had sex or been exposed to HPV, which is why it’s not often given to people older than 26. But no matter who you are or how old you are, talk with a health care provider to find out if the HPV vaccine could help you.
Planned Parenthood, I love your tumblr so freaking much. And thank you for being trans* inclusive! <3
