A Beijing hospital has appealed for blood donation directed only to virgin women in the country. The request shocks the Chinese blogosphere.
The affair shook China! As part of its research on the papillomavirus (HPV), the cancer hospital at Peking University said it needed blood samples from 100 virgin women aged 18 to 24. The information revealed by the daily China Daily arouses controversy in the Middle Kingdom.
The human papillomavirus is a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact, regardless of its form (penetration, genital caress or orogenital contact). Infection is common since 80% of women are infected at least once in their life. Most of the time, the virus goes away on its own. However, in 10% of infected women, the virus persists for several years in the lining of the cervix and can then cause precancerous lesions, which may progress to cancer.
As HPV is linked to the sexuality of women, the Chinese hospital has thus affirmed to “comply with international practices” by seeking to collect blood samples according to it the least likely to be infected by the virus. “The risk of having contracted HPV is low in women who have never had sex,” said Ms. Guan Jiuping, spokesperson for the establishment, quoted by the newspaper.
The request, however, triggered indignant reactions from many Chinese internet users, who deemed it insulting to women. “So if I understand correctly, we don’t need virgin men, only women, is that science?” Quipped a user of the country’s main microblogging site.
In fact, papillomavirus infection also affects men, even if theMost of the time, it shows no signs of illness in them, is silent and goes away on its own.
However, sometimes the infection leads to the appearance of condyloma visible on the genitals. Finally, certain types of papillomavirus can be responsible for precancerous lesions and cancers of the penis or the anal canal.
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