HPV Vaccine and Cervical Cancer  Tags: ugl_subject_guide hpv_vaccine cervical_cancer gardasil ugl  

Adolescent girls health
STD
Venereal disease
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV vaccine debate
Cervical cancer
Gardasil®
CERVARIX™

The Human Papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is a sexually transmitted disease that will affect at least 50% of sexually active man and women during their lifetime. There are over 100 different strains of HPV, 40 of which affect the genital area. Typically, a person’s immune system fights off the infection, but in some cases, HPV remains in a person’s body and the abnormal cells created by HPV become cancerous. HPV is most commonly linked with cervical cancer, although it can cause other types of cancer such as cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. HPV also causes genital warts. However, the strains of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same strains that cause cervical cancer (http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/default.htm#fact).

Currently, females between the ages of 9 and 26 are eligible to receive an HPV vaccine. The vaccine, called Gardasil® was created by Merck and Co. Inc. and currently is the only HPV vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine protects women from four strains of HPV, strains 16 and 18 which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and strains 6 and 11 which cause 90% of genital warts cases. The vaccine is only 100% effective when administered to a female who has not become sexually active and thus has not been exposed to HPV ().

The vaccine has generated a great deal of controversy. Parents and other individuals who oppose the vaccine argue that giving the vaccine to young girls will encourage sexual activity. However, advocates of vaccine argue that receiving the vaccine will not encourage sexual activity, and that the vaccine is critical in protecting girls from cervical cancer.

EG 7/5/08