CDC recommends abstinence to avoid HPV

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending abstinence and monogamy as the primary methods to avoid the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus, The Washington Times reports. Although condom use can reduce the risk of HPV transmissions, it is not as effective in preventing the STD as it is in preventing other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. In light of that, the CDC does not recommend condom use as a primary HPV-prevention strategy. "While a few studies on genital HPV and condom use showed a protective effect, most studies did not show a protective effect," said a CDC report given to Congress last week. "The available scientific evidence is not sufficient to recommend condoms as a primary prevention strategy." HPV is the most common STD in the United States, with about 20 million Americans infected with the virus. It can cause genital and anal warts, and some strains of the virus have been linked with virtually all cases of cervical cancer. The CDC report also recommends that all women be screened for HPV infection to determine if they are at risk for cancer development.