• Categories

  • Practice News
  • Seminar Announcements
  • Women's Health News

• Recent Posts

  • Hysteroscopic Morcellation: Faster Removal of Fibroids and Polyps
  • Is Vaginal Mesh for Prolapse Repairs Safe?
  • So you want birth control pills and have a medical illness. Is it OK?
  • 7 practical tips to improve contraceptive effectiveness
  • Uterine Polyps Common & Usually Benign
  • PAP & HPV Testing: More is not Better
  • Making Sense of Perimenopause
  • Nutrition Plate Replaces Food Pyramid
  • The Pendulum Swings… More vitamin D and Calcium not Better
  • Progesterone Prevents Premature Deliveries

• News Desk Pages

  • About Women’s Health Specialists
  • Obstetricians & Gynecologists
  • Subscribe

• Archives

  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • May 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • September 2007
  • June 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006

2006 appears to be the year for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer. Last month the FDA approved Gardasil® as the first HPV vaccine, which is effective at preventing approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. This is due to its activity against HPV types 16 & 18. It also covers types 6 & 11, responsible for about 90% of genital warts.

Approximately 80% of American adults contract HPV at some point in their lifetime. This vaccine is preventative, so needs to be administered before exposure to HPV. It doesn’t help with established infection, most of which will resolve because of our immune system. consequently the CDC recommends routine vaccination for 11-12 year-old girls and catch-up vaccination for 13-26 year-old females (may begin as early as age 9 according to FDA trial).

• Women should receive a series of three immunizations at 0, 2, and 6 months (costs approximately $360).
• The vaccine appears to be safe and without serious side effects. Adverse reactions are mainly injection site pain. This reaction is common and mild. There is no mercury in the vaccine.
• The duration of protection is unclear. Current studies indicate the vaccine is effective for five years. There is no evidence of waning immunity during that time period.
• Research about activity in males, older women, and duration of effectiveness is ongoing.
• Vaccinated women should continue to practice protective sexual behaviors (e.g. abstinence, monogamy, limiting the number of sex partners, and/or using condoms), since the vaccine will not prevent all HPV types—nor will it prevent other STDs.
• Vaccinated women will need regular cervical cancer screening since the vaccine will not provide protection against all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, and since some women may not receive the full vaccine series.

If you have daughters between ages of 9 and 26, check with your pediatrician if they offer HPV vaccination. If they don’t, or if you are this age range, please feel free to schedule an appointment with us for counseling and immunization. This is an exciting breakthrough in the prevention of cancer.

Wishing you good health!

70% of Cervical Cancer will be prevented by this new vaccine

To learn more about HPV Vaccine, visit our web site Women’s Health Specialists

Women’s Health Specialists
2299 Mowry Ave. Suite #3C
Fremont, CA 94538
510.796.7057