IU Health & Wellness
IU Health & Wellness
Research and insights from Indiana University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2010
IU Health and Wellness for April discusses the following topics:
HVP vaccine for males age 9-26
The unhealthy relationship between cigarette smoking and alcohol and drug use
Visitability: homes designed for 21st century lifestyles
HPV vaccine for men. Last fall the FDA approved Gardisil for men to prevent genital warts resulting from human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that also has been associated with cervical cancer in women and cancers of the head and neck in both sexes. While most women have been receptive to the vaccine, some health experts expect men to be slightly more reluctant to get the vaccine. “Men should consider getting the vaccine in order to protect themselves against genital warts, but also to protect their partners,” says Dr. Judy Klein, a physician at the Indiana University Health Center. “Even if you have already had HPV, the vaccine can still be effective in protecting against other strains of the virus. However, current testing does not allow health professionals to determine which strain(s) of the virus an individual has.” The vaccine is recommended for ages 9-26, but is most effective when given before the onset of sexual activity. However, health experts have been disappointed that fewer than 40 precent of pre-adolescent females have been getting vaccinated. Side effects may include headache, fever, pain at the injection site, itching, redness, swelling and bruising.
Klein said that men may be slightly more reluctant to get the vaccine than women for several reasons:
- Women typically get routine annual exams, so not only are women more accustomed to addressing their sexual health, but they are also given more opportunities to receive information about sexual health topics such as the HPV vaccine.
- Men don’t have the additional fear of HPV leading to cervical cancer, and it is possible to receive treatment for genital warts.
- The vaccine thus far has been poorly publicized and many men are unaware of the new vaccine and its benefits.
The HPV vaccine was approved by the FDA in 2006 for females ages 9-26. Gardasil protects against HPV strains 6 and 11, which are the most common strains that lead to genital warts, and also against strains 16 and 18, which are the most common strains that lead to cervical cancer in women. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is a viral infection that is transmitted through skin-on-skin contact. It is possible for both sexes to carry the virus while showing no signs of infection, including testing negative for HPV.
The IU Health Center provides the HPV vaccine for both men and women. For more information about the vaccine, please visit the IU Health Center Web site at healthcenter.indiana.edu/quicklinks/gardasil.html. For additional assistance, contact Tracy James, at 812-855-0084 and , or Sarah Stephens, at . Top
Closing the gateway to alcohol and drug use. Smoking is not just a bad habit that can lead to premature death, but it also can lead to an increased use of certain drugs. An Indiana University study has found that increased smoking is strongly associated with increased use of alcohol, smokeless tobacco and other illicit drugs. “The empirical data provides evidence that tobacco still serves as a gateway drug. Furthermore, there is a dose response relationship with regard to monthly use of cigarettes and other substances across all grades surveyed,” said Mohammad Torabi, Chancellor’s Professor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and study co-author. “Tobacco is everyone’s common enemy.” The study, published in the American Journal of Health Education, reiterates the findings of Torabi’s 1993 study that tobacco is a significant gateway drug. “In our current study, increased smoking was strongly associated with increased use of alcohol, smokeless tobacco, and five other drugs. This is a significant public health problem,” Torabi said. “Probably one way to prevent other drug use is concentrating on tobacco prevention and cessation. That is not to say there is cause and effect relationship between tobacco use and other drugs.” Every year tobacco is responsible for nearly 450,000 deaths in the United States. Its use affects the health and well-being of smokers and nonsmokers alike and it contributes significantly to skyrocketing health care costs. According to the study, tobacco has not only impacted the health but also the wealth of every member of our society. “As is known, a great majority of smokers start prior to the age of 25. That is why most of the marketing of tobacco is targeted toward younger people. If they are ‘hooked’ to this deadly product, they are almost always ‘hooked’ for life,” Torabi said. The younger a person begins smoking, the greater the likelihood of addiction and disease. This study reveals that Indiana eighth graders used cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana at a much higher rate than the national average. Similar results were also found in other grade levels. According to the study, “the heavier the level of smoking, the greater the predicted probability of alcohol use.” Parents constitute the most important ingredient in preventing youth tobacco use. The study makes the following recommendations:
- School involvement. Schools need to employ smoking bans, to adopt evidence-based tobacco prevention curricula and to offer and promote smoking cessation programs.
- Community involvement. Evidence-based community strategies include increasing taxes on cigarettes, interventions to reduce youth access to tobacco in combination with mobilization efforts, and counter-marketing campaigns. Communities as well as schools should increase stigmatization of smoking.
- Adult involvement. Every parent, teacher and person who works with youth should recognize the powerful predictive relationship between cigarette smoking and the use of alcohol and other drugs and be able to have an open dialogue with the said youth.
“Obviously, this study demonstrated that tobacco use is one of the most critical public health problems,” Torabi said. “If we make an investment in prevention and cessation, it not only saves premature death and suffering, but it saves taxpayers’ resources in the long term and will reduce our skyrocketing health care costs.”
Torabi, chair of the School of HPER’s Department of Applied Health Science, can be reached at 812-855-4808 or . Top
Visitability: Housing designed to be welcoming place for all. New housing construction has yet to catch up with 21st century lifestyles, where more people want to stay in their homes as they age, young parents juggle strollers and groceries and people of all ages live with various disabilities. Visitability, a nationwide movement, asks people without disabilities to think about how features such as wider doors, a stepless entry and a bathroom on the main floor can make their day-to-day lives easier now, not to mention when they’re older. These features also make homes more welcoming for older relatives and friends who might have disabilities. “Visitability is a home construction and design approach that incorporates basic accessibility into newly-built homes and housing.” Simply put, “it makes life easier” and makes a home more welcoming for those with disabilities, says Sharon Hauss, research associate at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. “It’s a terrible feeling when you realize you can’t have friends in your own home.” Having a broken leg or joint replacement can make a person’s own home seem unwelcoming. Car accidents, military service, illnesses and other situations can leave people unexpectedly injured or with a disability. “Our physical abilities change over time,” says Hauss. “As a result, our homes may have to change as well, but think of how beneficial it would be if those features had been included from the beginning.”
Including visitability features in new construction is estimated to cost an additional 1 percent, which is less than it would cost to retrofit a house. The following are the defining features of a visitable home:
- Stepless entrance. An entrance either at the front, side, rear of the house, or from the garage that does not have any steps.
- Wide doorways. Doors on the main level that are 36 inches wide, allowing 34 inches clear passage. The typical 30 inch door found in the majority of homes is not accessible for most wheelchair access and other modes of mobility.
- Bathroom on main level. At least a half-bath on the main level with reinforced walls for grab bars as well as space for a wheelchair to maneuver.
Here are some of the benefits of visitability features:
- Convenience. Activities such as bringing in groceries, rolling in the stroller, hauling in the new refrigerator, or struggling with luggage, are easier. Dealing with a sprained ankle, using a wheelchair or crutches is less difficult. “Steps also get harder when you get older,” says Hauss.
- Flexibility/Planning for future. Be ready for all of life’s seasons and realize that aging should not have to mean moving. “Most older people want to age in place and stay in their homes,” says Jane Harlan-Simmons, research associate also at the Institute.
- Hospitability. Excluding friends and family with mobility limitations from visiting your home will no longer be an issue.
- Marketability. “You can make a stepless entrance look attractive and enhance the resale value of the house,” says Harlan-Simmons.
According to Hauss and Harlan-Simmons, mandatory and voluntary visitability initiatives have been put into practice in parts of Arizona, Texas, Illinois and Georgia. For example, in Bolingbrook, Ill., it was mandated that all new homes be visitable. Harlan-Simmons and Hauss said contractors might have a lack of experience or knowledge of various visitability features, so people interested in such a home should be prepared to explain what they want. They also encourage home shoppers to mention the desire for such features to their realtors. “Builders and realtors need to know that there is a market for houses that accommodate the needs of aging baby boomers,” says Harlan-Simmons.
To learn more about visitability, talk to your building professional about constructing a veritable home or call Indiana Builders Association at (317) 236-6334. The following are helpful resources about visitability:
- Concrete Change: concretechange.org
- National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification: homemods.org
- National Association of Home Builders: nahb.org
- Build a Home to Welcome All Your Guests (consumer brochure): iidc.indiana.edu/cpps/Visitability/Visitability.html
The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities, works to increase community capacity in disability through academic instruction, research, dissemination and training, and technical assistance. Visit the Institute on the Web at iidc.indiana.edu.
For more information or to request a free copy of the Visitability brochure mentioned above, e-mail Jane Harlan-Simmons at , or Sharon Hauss at , or telephone the Institute at 812-855-6508. Top
For additional assistance with these items, contact Tracy James, University Communications, at 812-855-0084 or .
Natural Remedies For Genital Warts
Genital warts is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease that is plaguing many people. It comes from the strain of the HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus. Remember that this type of STD has no cure but the warts can be easily removed. However, even if you remove the warts, they can reappear because the virus is still there. Also, women are also susceptible to cervical cancer that is why this type of STD is very harmful and dangerous. It is very fortunate that there are a lot of remedies that will heal the warts.
One characteristic of this virus that makes it hard to cure and the warts hard to remove is that this type of virus if very chronic. The virus can lie dormant for months in time only to reappear after a while. Because of this, many people are not aware if they have that type of virus or not. And because many people are unaware that they have the virus already, it led to the massive growth of known infected cases.
What you need to know is that genital warts are fungal infections that grow on your genitals or around your anus region. Because of this, the most common treatment is the use of anti fungal cream that you can apply to different regions that are infected. However, if you are allergic to these types of treatment, the skin can be irritated. This led too many people finding home remedies that will allow them to treat this type of fungal infection. Here are some of the home remedies that you can use.
Tea tree oil is a nice ointment that you can apply to the infected regions. This is because tea tree oil will least likely irritate the skin where you apply it on. You are very much in control of the amount that you want to apply and this natural oil will have a nice soothing effect on your body.
Blue green algae is a dietary supplement that many exercise enthusiasts use. However, people do not know that this can also help in limiting the growth of fungi on the infected regions. Try and include this thing in your diet and you will feel the effect almost immediately.
Another thing that you can try to apply is the apple cider vinegar. Many people believe that acidic materials will help in curing the warts. Because apple cider vinegar has a high acid content, you can be rest assured that you can at least alleviate or lessen the warts that you have.
How important is it to reveal your HPV if you are protected …
Cure For Genital Warts – Difficult But Possible
Genital warts are scientifically called as Condyloma acuminate. These are generally found near the genital regions of human males and females. Genital warts are caused by a virus named human papilloma virus or HPV. This infection is very contagious and can spread by touch too. This virus can affect the human of any age, not even children are spared. When a healthy person has a sexual contact with a person who is infected by the human papilloma virus, there is a 60 percent chance that the healthy person might contract the disease.
Usually the age group of 17-33 years is the high risk group as far as warts are concerned. Children contract this disease through non-sexual contact. But keeping in mind the increased frequency of child abuse, the presence of warts in children can be used as one of the indicators of the same. Of the 100 or so strains of human papilloma virus found in nature, 40 are potential causative agents of genital warts.
Prior to adopting a method of treatment for genital warts, the following points need to be taken into account:
1. The treatment’s side effects2. The location, size, and number of warts3. The doctor’s skills and qualification 4. The treatment’s cost, including the cost of medicines5. The total number of treatments required
Some medication to be taken can have adverse effects on the health of a pregnant woman or a mother breast feeding a baby. In case you belong to either category, take the advice of your physician and follow it stringently. When one goes to visit a doctor, the first thing he may do is to subject the patient to a detailed check-up and ask you to take some pathological tests. There are several methods to check for genital warts. One of the common ones is visual examination.
Visual examination is of essence here because the warts usually appear raised on the skin surface and can be picked up even by the naked eye. Unfortunately, no cure can claim to eradicate the disease from its roots. Antibiotics are useless here as the trouble is being caused not by bacteria but by the human papilloma virus. Various treatments are available for genital warts. The treatment would be a function of size, number and nature of the warts.
A simple and easy method to treat genital warts is by the Podophyllin resin method. The Podophyllin resin is a liquid brown in colour applied locally on the wart. It must be kept there for about 4 hours at most and then rinsed off with clean water. If the time period of application goes beyond the stated time, the chemical may begin to cause an itch. This can reach irritating and painful levels, too. This particular method of applying and removing Podophyllin resin is performed better by trained medical or paramedical staff.
Doctors may also recommend genital wart creams, lotions, or gels for the treatment of genital warts. These include Imiquimod, Polyphenon, and Fluorouracil. Wartrols genital warts cream is one of the many creams that are available in the market. This cream is generally applied by the person who is suffering with genital warts. Supposedly, this is one of the best creams for the treatment. It is available in most medical shops and can also be bought online. Buying the genital wart creams, gels or lotions online has its advantages as you protect your privacy.
These creams are usually anti-viral drugs and are hence fraught with side effects. Carefully consider the various advantages and disadvantages of the treatment and proceed with it only if the ledger shows a positive balance. The usual instructions that are given by doctors regarding application of genital warts creams is to apply them thrice a week at bedtime. The cream has to be washed off in the morning. The treatment can continue for a few months.
Patients hoping for a speedier recovery can go for the modern and effective laser technology.
How can I keep my family members with herpes from kissing me …
were do you catch genital warts from ? and how to get rid of fast?
I Quit drinking amost 3 years ago , now I know i have liver damage,and hepititus C now this pops up under my left side of my penus area. how can that be contracted and how can i rid myself of this problem.Please Only real responces will be replied to.
A Sexual Sampler
In true columnist fashion, I am using my second-to-last column as a means of covering all of the topics I hoped to write about when I first got the sex columnist position. That, plus a couple topic ideas given to me on Tuesday night by an anonymous frat boy (let’s call him Seth) who wanted his questions answered so badly he listed them on his Blackberry so he wouldn’t forget.
Unused Topics
First, the serious: HPV. According to Gannett, 80 percent of women on Cornell’s campus will contract some strain of HPV before they graduate. The reason is that HPV is completely undetectable in men, and transmission is not totally prevented by condoms. HPV can lead to cervical cancer or genital warts, so please: get tested. The vaccine will prevent the most common and most virulent strains, but a pap smear is the only way to make sure you are completely clean. Get tested. Seriously. Between every sexual partner.
Second, the serious in a different kind of way: Accidental Anal. Yes, Jeff, it happens. Twice to me to be specific — well, one was an accident and the other was more of a miscommunication. I digress. The guy got a little too into it during doggy style and lost focus for one second. Suddenly, there was penis in my butthole. Not to say that people don’t like anal sex, but usually some warning (and lube) is preferable. Also, I don’t like it. My one hole provides enough entertainment for me. Either way, both times I was left curled up in a ball on the bed, crying and holding my butt cheeks together trying to reverse the damage. Let me tell you: The damage is irreversible. I was afraid to poop for a week. Meanwhile, the guy had made it across the room in Edward Cullen-esque speed, trying to figure out what it is that he did wrong. So now I am not only trying to comfort myself, but I have to somehow figure out how to make my pain look as sexy as possible to comfort my lover. “I’m okay I’m okay I’m okay,” I repeat between tears. But please, accidentally putting your penis in my butt is Game Over for sex for the rest of that night. Don’t try to pick up where you left off.
Frat Questions and Suggestions
1. Would a girl be freaked out if she knew I took Viagra on a first date in order to impress her? What about long lasting condoms?
I think a girl would be uncomfortable knowing that her 20-something partner took Viagra, only because it carries the stigma that it is for old men who have a medical reason (i.e. not alcohol) for impotency. As we approach our quarter-life crisis and college graduation, the fewer reminders of how old we’re getting the better. So you’re better off just keeping your recreational pharmaceutical use to yourself. I’ve never used long lasting condoms ,but I think they are more socially acceptable since they are usually marketed toward a younger crowd. Just make sure you are able to come while using them, because I’ve heard some horror stories.
2. Some girls who aren’t on birth control don’t want you to come inside them. Where is the best place to come in this case?
My friends and I believe that coming inside a girl without using a condom is often a more intimate sexual act, one reserved for boyfriends only. If a girl is not on birth control, you should be using a condom and then the problem is solved. However, if you are being stupid and not using any form of protection except for pulling out, first, have fun with your baby. Second, ask her where she wants you to come. She probably opened the door by telling you she’s not on birth control so it’s totally fair game to inquire if you can come on her stomach, tits, mouth or towel. Ask it in a sexy way, and you might just be surprised at her answer.
3. Sometimes I think it would be nice if girls told us whether they had an orgasm during sex.
Agreed. Knowing that not everyone is as loud as I am (shout out to Val Pocus ’11 and her nature sounds), some girls orgasm in a manner that leaves guys guessing as to exactly how much they enjoyed their night. It’s so simple (and sexy!) for a girl to turn over and say, “I have never come so hard in my life,” as a form of verbal reinforcement for her boy. Or, at the very least, an unenthusiastic, “That was nice.” So that way, when the guy returns home at 3 p.m. the next day and recaps the night with his friends while watching The Biggest Loser and eating hun-cal fro-yo, he is totally clear on his details. At least this is how I pictured what Seth was talking about in my mind.
If you have any questions that you would like me to address in my final column, feel free to email me at
Jess H. recently graduated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She may be reached at . Girl On Top appears alternate Thursdays this semester.
GENITAL WARTS INCUBATION?
OKAY im sorry i just posted a question and i thank you for the people who answered but still no answer to my actual question. Pap test 6months after last sexual intercourse, came back okay. Check everyday for warts, scared to death. Today about 9months after sexual intercourse would i have had an abnormal pap by now, and or noticable spreading warts probably? I know it depends on peoples immune systems and i take birth control, smoke, have stress, and depression problems. Would i have probably known by now through pap tests and examining myself practically daily, like would they have spread and such. Just would i probably know by now lol im sorry i got a fear and doctors dont help much and i get all info except to these questions.
How to Use Tea Tree Oil For Curing Genital Warts
This infection is caused by HPV infection i.e. a sexually transmitted disease. Having a HPV infection is not safe at all as it brings diseases like cancer or urine cancer into picture. These are suspected because of its red color fleshy growth around the anus or genital parts. A woman gets this infection on her vaginal opening or uterus opening area including anus whereas a man gets this on his penis or anus. It doesn’t pain a lot or cause any trouble except itching but this silent growing of this infection can make you stick to a permanent disease for lifetime. Hence, it is must to cure genital wart and its re-occurring infection.
There are many ways to cure genital infection and one of them is using tea tree oil. Also, people go for medication and many other choices like skin cream and wart spray but natural treatment can prove better for healing warts. Genital wart testing is also offered by many medical experts, who use acids and vinegar solution to detect infection. After a visual examination is over or finish, they go for medication which usually doesn’t work and warts are suspected again after a month or year.
You can use natural treatment for curing genital wart infection. Using these oil is considered as a best one. Follow these steps to cure genital warts:
- Mix tea tree oil and water on a basis of 50-50% solution and infuse a gauze bandage in the liquid.
- Now let the bandage get soak inside the solution completely.
- After that, try to apply or place it around the affected area to cure infection.
- While applying the cloth or bandage around the affected area, your irritation of itching sensations get normal.
- Slowly and gradually, these warts get healed and cured because tea tree oils are best ingredient for skin problems.
- Tea tree and aloe vera are best skin treatment herbs and hence, they always react well to cure skin problems. Whether it is minor skin problem or major wart, tea tree oil works best for healing and curing it. Also, Tea tree oil is good for curing any warts including feet and genital parts.
Can Grape Seed Powdered Extract Cure Genital Warts and Other Skin …
Grape seed powdered extract is one of the several naturally occurring compounds that are being studied and recommended for their healing abilities. It is fast gaining popularity as a food supplement and at the same time, it is also utilized as a raw material for skin care products. The extract which is determined safe comes from whole grapes wherein the seeds are thoroughly processed into powder form.
As a potent antioxidant, grape seed powdered extract has the power to improve the various functions of the body’s immune system. It has the ability to significantly reduce the amount of free radicals in the body which leads to some claims that it is far greater than other antioxidants, vitamins C and E. This all-natural substance is generally recommended as a supplement in addition with other prescribed medication. User testimonials show that the extract is said to be effective in alleviating ailments affecting the brain, eye and skin. Individuals with heart disease swear by its effectiveness in improving their conditions. Recently, even those afflicted with genital warts discover how this extract can help them.
Consumers need not worry on where to find this amazing compound as this is readily available in a wide variety of health shops and pharmacies. Those who intend to purchase the extract can choose between oil and powdered form. Individuals suffering from genital warts can ingest capsules containing grape seed powdered extract at a recommended dosage of around 75 – 300 milligrams per day over a period of three weeks. However, it should be noted that the advise of a licensed medical specialist is important before administering the suggested usage. Keep in mind that there are instances wherein individuals are discouraged from taking the supplement to avoid complications. Children, expectant and nursing mothers, as well as patients with liver ailments should be cautious in ingesting the supplement.
When troubled with genital warts, topical application is more effective as compared to ingesting grape seed powdered extract. In its oil form, it is effective in healing the skin improve its condition. The extract is naturally unscented which makes it suitable as a raw component for use in commercially-prepared skin care products such as lotions and creams. It is safe for use regardless of skin type and contains a number of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. It is virtually a compatible product for acne prone skin.
There is still much to be learned and discovered about grape seed powdered extract. Continuous studies are focused on its health effects and benefits as well as its application. For now, let us be thankful and recognize how this supplement fights some common ailments as we go about our daily lives.