mcretella
06-16-2009, 10:33 PM
Does anyone know the size of HPV as compared to that of a typical male sperm?
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Pickle Eyes
06-16-2009, 11:28 PM
Interesting question, though I'm curious as to why you are asking about the size comparison. HPV is transmitted by skin to skin contact, not through body fluid (much less by/on/with sperm).
I had to do some research, but this is what I found. I don't know how accurate it is.
I couldn't find the size of HPV, but found information on ebola virus and rhinovirus.
The Ebola virus is 200 nanometers. Rhinovirus is about 20 nanometers. Human sperm is about 3 microns wide and range from 5-7 microns long.
1000 nm = 1 micron
May I ask why you want to know the sizes?
I had to do some research, but this is what I found. I don't know how accurate it is.
I couldn't find the size of HPV, but found information on ebola virus and rhinovirus.
The Ebola virus is 200 nanometers. Rhinovirus is about 20 nanometers. Human sperm is about 3 microns wide and range from 5-7 microns long.
1000 nm = 1 micron
May I ask why you want to know the sizes?
mcretella
06-20-2009, 06:14 PM
I know condoms decrease STI transmission. I am trying to understand what a decreased risk in transmission means in terms of clinical protection for a given individual. Latest research suggests that consistent and correct condom usage MAY decrease the risk of transmission of HPV by 50% (which does not translate into a specific degree of protection for a given individual, as I understand it).
Condoms fail to protect against pregnancy 20% of the time. All viruses are thousands of times smaller than sperm; so the chance of condom failure for a given individual having sex with an infected partner must be significantly greater than 50% -- ESPECIALLY for HPV which is transmitted by skin to skin contact and may involve an area not covered by a condom. Given the size discrepancies, using condoms to "block" transmission is a little like covering yourself with a moth-eaten cloth - better than nothing, but not exactly "protection."
What do you think?
MC
Condoms fail to protect against pregnancy 20% of the time. All viruses are thousands of times smaller than sperm; so the chance of condom failure for a given individual having sex with an infected partner must be significantly greater than 50% -- ESPECIALLY for HPV which is transmitted by skin to skin contact and may involve an area not covered by a condom. Given the size discrepancies, using condoms to "block" transmission is a little like covering yourself with a moth-eaten cloth - better than nothing, but not exactly "protection."
What do you think?
MC
Pickle Eyes
06-20-2009, 11:12 PM
I don't know how it translates into clinical terms, but I think the condom can offer *some* protection against transmitting HPV (assuming one person doesn't have that/those strain(s) of HPV. I think the more partners (for sexual activities, not just intercourse) one dramatically increases one's chances of ending up with at least one strain of HPV. And it only takes one strain of HPV, unchecked by the body, to wreck havoc.
Assuming a person has more than one sex partner in life, using a condom offers some protection against many things people would like to be protected against. So, yes, I think using a condom is prudent, especially if one has more than one sex partner in life - until one finds a partner with whom one chooses to swap all viruses, infections, risk pregnancy, etc.
I think many (most?) people think a condom will protect them against all (literally, ALL) kinds of sexually transmitted "things." . Unfortunately, that is a huge mistake in thought.
Assuming a person has more than one sex partner in life, using a condom offers some protection against many things people would like to be protected against. So, yes, I think using a condom is prudent, especially if one has more than one sex partner in life - until one finds a partner with whom one chooses to swap all viruses, infections, risk pregnancy, etc.
I think many (most?) people think a condom will protect them against all (literally, ALL) kinds of sexually transmitted "things." . Unfortunately, that is a huge mistake in thought.
mcretella
06-21-2009, 01:04 PM
I agree. Thanks.
MC
I don't know how it translates into clinical terms, but I think the condom can offer *some* protection against transmitting HPV (assuming one person doesn't have that/those strain(s) of HPV. I think the more partners (for sexual activities, not just intercourse) one dramatically increases one's chances of ending up with at least one strain of HPV. And it only takes one strain of HPV, unchecked by the body, to wreck havoc.
Assuming a person has more than one sex partner in life, using a condom offers some protection against many things people would like to be protected against. So, yes, I think using a condom is prudent, especially if one has more than one sex partner in life - until one finds a partner with whom one chooses to swap all viruses, infections, risk pregnancy, etc.
I think many (most?) people think a condom will protect them against all (literally, ALL) kinds of sexually transmitted "things." . Unfortunately, that is a huge mistake in thought.
MC
I don't know how it translates into clinical terms, but I think the condom can offer *some* protection against transmitting HPV (assuming one person doesn't have that/those strain(s) of HPV. I think the more partners (for sexual activities, not just intercourse) one dramatically increases one's chances of ending up with at least one strain of HPV. And it only takes one strain of HPV, unchecked by the body, to wreck havoc.
Assuming a person has more than one sex partner in life, using a condom offers some protection against many things people would like to be protected against. So, yes, I think using a condom is prudent, especially if one has more than one sex partner in life - until one finds a partner with whom one chooses to swap all viruses, infections, risk pregnancy, etc.
I think many (most?) people think a condom will protect them against all (literally, ALL) kinds of sexually transmitted "things." . Unfortunately, that is a huge mistake in thought.
Thisby
06-22-2009, 12:02 PM
Condoms fail to protect against pregnancy 20% of the time. All viruses are thousands of times smaller than sperm; so the chance of condom failure for a given individual having sex with an infected partner must be significantly greater than 50% -- ESPECIALLY for HPV which is transmitted by skin to skin contact and may involve an area not covered by a condom. Given the size discrepancies, using condoms to "block" transmission is a little like covering yourself with a moth-eaten cloth - better than nothing, but not exactly "protection."
I don't know where you're getting your stats, but I think you're missing HOW condoms fail. First, condom failure rates aren't that high and the main reason they fail is because they aren't used properly or all the time. With "perfect use" their failure rate is more like 2%. Basically, condoms are not failing because sperm is getting through, it's because people aren't using them right.
As for condom protection against HPV, for it to work, a person would have to ONLY have contact with parts covered by the condom. Pretty impossibly, right? Every other part of the genitals (or hands or mouth) that could be carrying the virus once the messing around beings, could be passing on the virus. Blaming the size of the virus and it getting through microscopic holes in the condom is actually kind of unnecessary.
I don't know where you're getting your stats, but I think you're missing HOW condoms fail. First, condom failure rates aren't that high and the main reason they fail is because they aren't used properly or all the time. With "perfect use" their failure rate is more like 2%. Basically, condoms are not failing because sperm is getting through, it's because people aren't using them right.
As for condom protection against HPV, for it to work, a person would have to ONLY have contact with parts covered by the condom. Pretty impossibly, right? Every other part of the genitals (or hands or mouth) that could be carrying the virus once the messing around beings, could be passing on the virus. Blaming the size of the virus and it getting through microscopic holes in the condom is actually kind of unnecessary.