The Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences (FNHS) at Notre Dame University-Louaize Shouf Campus (NDU-SC), in collaboration with the Health Club at NDU, and in the presence of SC Director Fr. Naji Khalil, hosted on Thursday, April 26, 2018, Ghassan Azar, M.D. obstetrics and gynecology expert, to discuss Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). The lecture was held during lunch break at the Conference Room and focused on the most common STD: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), its causes, symptoms and signs, and treatment and prevention.
FNHS Coordinator Dr. Lara Youssef moderated the seminar, which was attended by faculty, staff, and students. She began by welcoming Dr. Azar and went on to list his multiple achievements that range from discoveries and breakthroughs in the field of gynecology to multiple publications that have received worldwide acclaim.
Dr. Azar began by screening a video, which was the testimony a female patient who died from HPV positive laryngeal cancer and how she fought for her life to spread awareness to educate people about HPV and its deadly effects. Following the video, he said that HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer, of which there are about 12,000 cases in the U.S. every year.
He noted that HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses. HPV is named for the warts (papillomas) caused by the virus itself. Some other HPV types can lead to cancer. Men and women can get oropharyngeal and anorectal cancer caused by HPV infections. Men can also get penile HPV cancer. In women, HPV infections can also cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
Dr. Ghassan expounded that HPV is transmitted through sustained direct skin-to-skin contact. HPV is transmitted through oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who has the virus. HPV can be transmitted even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. He noted that symptoms may develop years after being infected, making it hard to know when a person first got the infection.
Cervical cancer screening, such as with the Papanicolaou test (pap) can detect early cancer or abnormal cells that may develop into cancer. This test allows for early treatment, which results in better outcomes.
He said that in most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems, and that HPV vaccines can prevent the most common types of infection. To be most effective, the vaccines should be used before an infection occurs and are, therefor,e recommended between the ages of nine and 13 for both sexes.
Dr. Azar said that about 95 percent of HPV-positive oropharynx cancers were caused by HPV16, a strain targeted by Gardasil and Cervarix, the two vaccines currently on the market to prevent cervical cancer.
He noted that the latest available vaccine “Gardasil 9” protects against nine types of HPV, including Type 16 and 18 that cause the greatest risk of cervical cancer.
A Q&A session followed the lecture and produced an interesting interaction between the speaker and audience. The lecture succeeded in raising awareness among the audience, as this topic is controversial nowadays due to the increased STDs incidence in Lebanon.