In this edition of EmpowHER's "HER Daily Dose", Bailey Mosier examines a study that suggests that there is a difference in how long an HPV infection may last in African American women as opposed to White college aged women.
Hi, I’m Bailey Mosier. This is your EmpowHER HER Daily Dose.
A recent study found that HPV infections tend to last longer in college-aged black women than whites, potentially setting them up for a greater risk of cervical cancer.
Researchers from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy, in Charleston analyzed 326 white women and 113 black women enrolled at the University of South Carolina and found that black women are 70 percent more likely to have an abnormal Pap test, which screens for cervical cancer, than their white counterparts. And while most HPV infections clear on their own, researchers found infections lasted longer in black women.
Exactly why black women have more difficulty clearing the virus is not known, but researchers believe it has something to do with the immune system and other lifestyle factors. They hope to uncover the reasons for the differences so that they can make public health recommendations about how to manage the virus.
That wraps up your EmpowHER HER Daily Dose. Join me here at EmpowHER.com every weekday for your next dose of women’s health.
Add a CommentComments
There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!