House Parties of fiVe

House Parties of fiVe (HPV’s) mix girl talk with lessons that help women become more comfortable discussing their sexual health. Hosts invite at least five (or more or less) of their friends over, and while chatting about love, relationships and playing risqué versions of party games, women learn about situations that may put them at risk for the human papillomavirus and learn how to recognize the symptoms of the virus and cervical cancer. Not meant to be lectures, themes have ranged from wine & cheese to pampering parties, and each host is free to choose her theme. At the end of each party, hosts encourage guests to pass what they have learned to family and friends, and many of these women pledge to visit their gynecologists for Pap tests and/or HPV screenings, as well as learning more about the HPV Vaccine.