Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, is a sexually transmitted disease that is known to leave the body on its own. While you may need to have some sort of treatment to take care of any genital wart outbreaks or pre-cancerous changes in skin, a good immune system is usually enough to get rid of
the STD. This is why doctors typically recommend people with HPV to exercise, follow a well-balanced diet plan, and quit smoking. Is there also a connection between HPV and hygiene, however? Here are some of the things that you should know about how hygiene may affect Human Papilloma Virus.
Does Hygiene Affect HPV?
HPV is the virus that causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Research has shown that the risk of cervical cancer among those with HPV was cut in half by showering or bathing six or more times per week. This was in comparison to women who showered one to five times per week. This means that if you have the virus and shower on a daily basis, your chances of developing cervical cancer in the future are going to be greatly reduced. If you do not bathe frequently when you have HPV, it is also believed your chances of getting rid of the virus will also decrease.
Why Does Hygiene Affect HPV?
To date, there has not been enough research done to determine what the direct link between HPV and hygiene is. However, it is known that there is one. This is not at all surprising, as good personal hygiene is known to play a role in the treatment of yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. When you have better hygiene, it is believed that your body is more likely to get rid of the virus. This goes along with the theory that the better your immune system is, the more likely your body will be to get rid of HPV on its own. Hygiene is indicative of good health, which will help cure Human Papilloma Virus. Additionally, the added moisturization that the skin gets from bathing may help the infected areas clear themselves quicker.
Personal hygiene is important for everyone, but especially for women, who are prone to yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Although you might not necessarily realize it, there is a chance that you could be putting yourself at a greater risk of developing
cervical cancer as a result of HPV by not bathing on a regular basis. The cleaner that you keep yourself, the more likely you are going to be to get rid of the virus and, ultimately, increase your chances of preventing cervical cancer.