Blanchard Valley Health System

By Allison Westcott, MD
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection. Over 14 million new cases occur in the U.S. yearly, although most people do not know that they have been affected. This infection can lead to genital warts or certain types of cancer, with the most common being cervical. Also included are vulvar, anal, penile, and cancers of the head and neck.

HPV is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact and sexual contact. Most sexually active men and women will contract the HPV virus at some point in their lives. While there is no cure for the HPV virus, there are effective vaccines available for prevention.

By Jay Alammar, MD
Surgical Associates of Northwest Ohio
Did you know that 10 to 15 percent of Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Many more also meet the criteria of the diagnosis but have not been formally diagnosed.

IBS is a chronic condition characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort and altered bowel habits, mainly diarrhea, constipation or alternating episodes of both. Other symptoms may include bloating, feelings of fullness, urgency to use the restroom, and feelings of incomplete evacuation of stool. The symptoms are often relieved by having a bowel movement and made worse by eating.