Pros of the HPV Vaccine

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has over 100 strains that cause different ailments. Several strains of HPV can be transmitted sexually, through skin to skin contact. Some strains of genital HPV can cause warts on the vulva, cervix, penis, scrotum, and anus or in the vagina or rectum. Other strains can cause cervical cancer. Much less commonly HPV can cause cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus and penis.

Significance

• HPV is the most common STI. Half of all sexually active people will get HPV. For most people, HPV will cause them no health problems; they will never know they have HPV, and the virus will go away on its own after a few years. This is because the majority of healthy people will have an immune response to the infection that will fight it off eventually.

Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer

• Genital HPV most commonly causes either genital warts or cervical cancer. Genital warts are flesh-colored growths on the genitals and surrounding areas. Warts are usually painless; but some people prefer to have them removed by a doctor. Cervical cancer affected approximately 11,000 women in 2007 (the last year data is available for). Approximately 3,600 women died from cervical cancer in the same year. Cervical cancer often has no noticeable symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. Cervical cancer or pre-cancerous cells can be detected early through regular Pap Tests, which will allow you to treat the cancer before it is able to advance.

Gardasil

• There is currently a single vaccine available in the United States to prevent HPV, though another is currently being researched. Gardasil protects against 4 strains of HPV, and is considered very effective. Two of the strains cause 90 percent of genital warts cases. The other two strains cause 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. Gardasil, like other vaccines, does not treat an existing infection. However, it is unlikely that a woman will have all 4 strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against, so you can still get the vaccine if you have already had HPV.

Recommendations

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for all girls ages 11 to12. The vaccine is approved for use in women ages 9 to 26. The CDC recommends that any woman who has not been vaccinated in this group also be vaccinated. The vaccine is recommended for girls because it is most effective in women and girls who have not yet been exposed to HPV. Because HPV is so common once a woman becomes sexually active she will be at risk for being exposed to HPV. The vaccine is not currently approved for use in men or women over the age of 26, but further studies are being conducted to test the safety of the vaccine in these groups.

Safety

• The Food and Drug Administration has deemed the vaccine both safe and effective. Prior to licensing, the vaccine was tested in thousands of women and girls throughout the world. No serious side effects have been found in the studies. The most common side effect has been soreness at the site of the injection.