There has been a lot of media coverage lately about the new vaccination approved for the prevention of the Human Papilloma Virus in girls and women ages 9 to 26. This vaccine, called Gardasil, has been shown by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be nearly 100 percent effective in the prevention of four strains of the virus. These four, although only a fraction of the number of HPV strains known, account for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer and 90 percent of all cases of genital warts and lesions. A similar vaccine, called Cervarix, is in the experimental process.
Recently, Texas Gov. Rick Perry bypassed the Legislature in an order requiring the vaccine be given to girls entering sixth grade. Kansas is not far behind; the same requirement is under discussion in the Legislature as we speak, and at least two dozen other states are considering the requirement as well.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that girls and women should ideally receive the vaccination prior to the initiation of sexual activity. However, women on the higher end of the recommended age range or who are sexually active in the 9-to-26 age group can benefit from the vaccine and should consider receiving it as well.
According to the CDC, very few women who are sexually active become infected with all four types of HPV that the vaccination covers. By receiving Gardasil, sexually active women can prevent those strains that they have not been exposed to, and women who are not sexually active can prevent acquiring all four strains in the future. This will significantly reduce a woman’s chances of developing cervical cancer or acquiring and spreading genital warts and lesions.
HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, is spread by genital or skin-to-skin contact. More than half of all sexually active males and females are infected with the virus some time in their lives, but because it has no symptoms, few people know when they are infected. There is no cure for HPV, and if left untreated, certain strains can develop into cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in females worldwide, accounting for nearly 290,000 deaths each year.
The good news is that there is now a way to prevent HPV from becoming an even more serious problem.
Gardasil has been shown to be safe and effective with few minor side effects, including tenderness at the injection site and mild fever.
Studies are currently being performed to test the safety of this vaccine in women older than 26, as well as in men and boys.
The vaccine is not a live virus, so there is no risk of obtaining HPV from the shot.
It is important to remember, however, that this vaccine does not cure or treat HPV, nor does it prevent other sexually transmitted infections and less-common forms of HPV. Because of this, women who receive the shot should still receive annual Pap Smears and physicals.
Other safe sexual practices should be implemented as well.
Women and girls between the ages of 9 and 26 should be encouraged to consider receiving this new HPV vaccination.
Not only is it a step toward decreasing health care costs associated with treating genital warts and cervical cancer, it also will improve the health and future outcomes of the women who are our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends.