HPV Help Has Arrived!
By Natasha

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a vaccine for genital human papillomavirus and recommended it for all young women between the ages of 9 and 26.[1] Called Gardasil® the vaccine protects against the four strains of HPV which cause 90 percent of genital warts and 70 percent of cervical cancers. The vaccine has been shown to be almost 100 percent effective in preventing disease caused by these four strains of HPV.

Women should continue to get an annual PAP test as the primary cancer-screening tool for cervical cancer.

Background on HPV:

The human papillomavirus, better known as HPV, is the most recent sexually transmitted disease to receive national attention, complete with glitzy commercials, billboards and colorful pamphlets at the doctor’s office. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of viruses (more than 100 different strains or types) that infect the skin. About 30 of these strains or types are sexually transmitted and can infect the genital area of men and women. Some types of genital HPV may cause genital warts, while other types of genital HPV are linked to abnormal cell changes on the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer (detected through Pap tests).

Because of the ease of transmission, HPV has become quite common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.[2] In fact, by the age of 50, 80 percent of all women will have acquired genital HPV. The majority of HPV cases will clear the body with no symptoms. However, for some people, HPV can lead to genital warts and for a smaller number of women to cervical cancer.

Remember to have your PAP test every year. Early detection saves lives!

1. For more information on the HPV Vaccine visit:
   http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm
2. For more information on HPV visit:
   http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#common

To see if you are eligible to receive the HPV vaccine free of charge visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc/Default.htm