Women at Risk: The HPV Epidemic and Your Cervical Health

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
One of the major breakthroughs in research on cervical cancer -- which affects 12,800 American women a year and kills 320,000 a year worldwide -- has been the discovery that it is caused by a viral infection, namely human papillomavirus, or HPV. Statistics show that 60 to 80 percent of the American population carries this virus in its latent form. Shocking, isn't it? And although HPV, which is transmitted through sexual contact, is particularly harmful to women, it also affects men, who can contract genital warts, and children, who can be exposed to the virus during gestation. While Dr. Gregory Henderson, the author of this important book, points out that only a small percentage of those carrying the virus actually develop the lesion that leads to reproductive cancer, he stresses that if you are a carrier, it is imperative to educate yourself and your family on the possible risks and courses of action. Women at Risk is an ideal source of information about HPV, as it lays out the basic anatomy and biology of human cells and explains how cancer develops, in terms that are understandable without being unduly frightening.

The good news is that catching HPV before it morphs your DNA into something dangerous is as simple as scheduling a basic annual Pap smear (which Henderson calls the "the world's best medical test" on the strength of its thorough look at the state of the cervix's cells). With a comprehensive chapter focusing on how to avoid HPV and what do to if you have it (including an impressive holistic approach offered by Dr. Allan Warshowsky), Women at Risk gives women and the people who love them a clear, calm framework in which to discuss cervical cancer -- a benefit that's been a long time coming. (Jessica Leigh Lebos)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This important book explains one of the most dangerous, yet relatively unknown, sexually transmitted diseases: human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. HPV infection is approaching epidemic levels in this country -- it is now the number-one sexually transmitted disease -- especially among teenagers and young women. But it is preventable.

Having noted this alarming trend, leading pathologist Gregory Henderson decided to do something about it. His candid, informative book will demystify HPV and the disorders it causes that affect cervical health -- including genital warts, cervical dysplasia, and cervical cancer. The book explains the importance of the Pap smear for early detection and treatment of HPV, the meaning of Pap test results, and ways of treating cervical disorders. Special chapters cover alternative means of treatment and prevention, focusing on immune system enhancement, and discuss the implications of the virus for men and children. Written for women of all ages, but especially those who are sexually active and of childbearing age, Women at Risk arms readers with the information needed to take charge of their reproductive health.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

This book is must-reading for every woman who has ever had an abnormal Pap smear or been diagnosed with HPV. (Christiane Northrup, M.D., author, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause)  — Christiane Northrup