Butler University’s Health Center and Peers Advocating Wellness for Students (PAWS) are working together to educate students about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) with ‘the HPV Initiative.’

The initiative was started by two pharmacy students, Sarah Literal and Kelly Cochran. Peer educators present information about HPV dangers and prevention in small group seminars. The goal of the initiative is to “tell someone” about HPV.

Information about becoming a peer-educator was sent out last semester on the Butler News Digest. Junior education major, Alyssa Conley responded to the e-mails because of a family history of HPV.

“I am very passionate about this initiative because my aunt died from cervical cancer caused by HPV. Not a lot of people know about HPV or they misunderstand what it is all about,” Conley said.

HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Some strains of the virus can cause genital warts in men and women, abnormal cervical cells and some types of cervical cancer in women.

The virus lives in the skin or in the mucous membranes of the genitals. The symptoms for HPV vary and can include genital warts. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.

While many might consider HPV to be something that only affects women, the dangers are real for men too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 50 percent of sexually active men and women will acquire HPV at some point in their lives.

Junior Jared Wiebel of the physician assistant program thinks this is an excellent initiative.

“The response has been extremely positive from students. I think being educated by a peer is a lot less threatening than being lectured by an adult. Students at Butler are among the risk category, which is people from ages 18-22, we want to reach all students. We want to expand this initiative to residence halls, sororities and fraternities,” Wiebel said.

There is no cure for HPV but the infection usually goes away on its own. During the peer-education sessions, information on the HPV vaccine is distributed. Gardasil is the FDA-approved vaccination for women against strains six, 11, 16, and 18. It is recommended for females between the ages 9-26.

The vaccine is given in a three-shot series over the course of six months. Butler’s Health Center has the vaccine at extremely discounted prices for students. Most students’ insurance carriers typically cover the shots. There is not currently an approved vaccine for HPV prevention for males.

Students who would like more information on the HPV vaccine or the other STD screening and treatment options Butler offers, they are encouraged to contact the Health Center at (317) 940-9385.

Anyone interested in becoming a peer-educator with the initiative should contact Sarah Barnes, the Coordinator for Health Education on campus.

“Anyone can have it,” Conley said, “stay informed and educate others.”