Once you have contracted the HPV virus, there is no known cure for it. In many cases, depending upon the strain by which you have been infected, the virus will run its course on its own and your body will be clear of it within a few years. But for some types of HPV, it gets a little more complicated, because they tend to hang around indefinitely weakening your immune system and/or causing you to be vulnerable to more serious disease. But while there is no treatment for the HPV virus itself, there are treatments for certain symptoms or conditions caused by the disease.

If you develop common warts, say on your hands or feet, t hey can often be treated very simply and successfully with over-the-counter medications for wart removal. Or you may wish to have your doctor remove them for you. Many people simply allow common warts to run their course and clear up by themselves. It is important to know that when common warts are cleared or go away, the virus may still be present in your body for some time. That is why warts keep coming back, and often require several treatments before you don’t see symptoms anymore.

Genital warts work in much the same way. There are medications available that your physician can give you to help clear up genital warts. These will also often reappear several times and require treatment more than once. In the vast majority of cases, the appearance of genital warts is not an indication that you are at risk of cancer. The strains of HPV that cause genital warts are generally NOT those strains related to cancer.

If you do contract a strain of HPV that can cause cancer, you will not know it for years. That is why, if you are sexually active at any point in your life, you need to have ongoing and routine health screening for HPV-related conditions. In this sense, HPV treatment is an ongoing process; this is why it is important for women to have regular pap smears during their annual gynecological exams to check for signs of changes in cells on the cervix that may indicate cancer. In early stages, cervical cancer is very treatable by minor surgery and poses minimal risk.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 12,000 women are diagnosed yearly with cervical cancer. In at least 70% of these cases, the HPV virus is responsible, and the patient was unknowingly carrying the virus for several years. Since there is no definitive medical test for HPV status, these patients are always unaware that they carry strains of HPV that lead to cervical cancer.

Although the particular strains of HPV that cause serious health conditions are not common, the risk of cancer is serious enough that it is important to educate yourself about HPV and learn what you can do to prevent yourself from being at risk.

Description

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, an organism that is transmitted through vaginal or anal sex. Symptoms generally appear one to three weeks after exposure to the bacteria, if they appear at all. In fact, many people do not even realize that they are carrying the disease, because chlamydia is sometimes asymptomatic in men and frequently asymptomatic in women. If left untreated, however, chlamydia can lead to chronic inflammation of the urethra and epididymis in men and pelvic inflammatory (PID) disease in women, both of which can cause sterility.

Chlamydia can also lead to secondary infections. For instance, if infected fluids come in contact with the eyes, they can cause eye infections. A pregnant woman can transmit chlamydia to her unborn child, causing the baby to develop chlamydial pneumonia or conjunctivitis. Chlamydia can also cause ectopic pregnancies and premature birth.)

Signs and Symptoms

Men may experience painful or frequent urination, discharge from the penis, or redness at the tip of the penis

Women may not experience any symptoms, or may have slight abdominal discomfort, vaginal discharge, or painful, frequent urination

Conventional Medical Treatment

A family physician, gynecologist (for women), or urologist (for men) can diagnose chlamydia with a secretions test. In women, secretions are taken from the cervix and tested for the presence of chlamydia trachomatis. Since chlamydia is often asymptomatic, women should have this test performed during annual gynecological exams. In men, semen or urethral secretions are tested for the organism. Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics, and symptoms usually disappear within two weeks. Both partners should be treated for the condition, regardless of who is infected.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Nutrition and Supplementation

Make the bulk of your diet fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat brown rice, whole grains, white fish, turkey, and raw seeds and nuts. Avoid junk foods and processed foods, and drink sugar-free juices and herbal teas.

The following daily supplements are recommended for treating chlamydia:

vitamin E (600 IU)

vitamin B complex (50 to 100 mg 3 times daily with meals)-necessary for proper functioning of the liver

vitamin C (1500 mg, 4 times daily)-use buffered form

zinc gluconate (50 mg)

copper (3 mg)-to balance with zinc

a prodophilus formula (as directed on label)-replaces friendly bacteria destroyed by antibiotics

Aromatherapy

Research suggests that the essential oil of red thyme, a gentle anti-infective, may be effective against chlamydia. Consult your doctor before self-treating.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture In conjunction with conventional medical treatment, acupuncture can be used to lessen the severity of chlamydia-related pain, fever, and urinary dysfunction and to bolster the immune system.

Acupressure Acupressure may be employed to help strengthen immunity, relieve pain, and improve the patient’s mood by reducing stress and anxiety.

Chinese Herbal Therapy Garlic may be recomended as a general immunity-fortifying tonic while gentiana, angelica, bupleurum, and Coptis (also called mishmi bitter) may be prescribed to counteract specific symptoms and to keep the disease from compromising fertility and progressing to full-blown PID.