Cervical Cancer Vaccine

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Cervical cancer affects thousands of American women each year. The human papillomavirus or HPV is a sexually transmitted disease believed to be a cause of cervical cancer. Now, there is hope for women young and old. A new vaccine has come along to aid in the battle against cervical cancer. Today, Suzanne sits with Dr. Michael Bookman to discuss the prospects of the vaccine and how it benefits women.

HPV the STD

Most people with HPV are women ranging from 18-24 years of age. HPV not only causes cancer in the cervix, but in the rectum as well. Most people with HPV may not even know that they are infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control, around 20 million people are currently infected with HPV, and about 50 percent of sexually active men and women receive the virus at some point in their lives. Some forms of HPV cause no harm, and some can lead to genital warts, and as mentioned earlier, can lead to cancer. The most accurate way of preventing HPV is to refrain from sexual contact with an infected partner.

The Vaccine

There is a new vaccine that is available by prescription through doctors such as Dr. Bookman. On June 8, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use and distribution of the vaccine, Gardasil, which is manufactured by Merck. It protects against two cancer causing HPV strains along with two types of genital warts. There has been some controversy regarding the vaccination, however. Some argue that since HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, doctors advocating the vaccine may also be advocating intercourse at a young age. As for the administration of the vaccine itself, three separate sessions are required at $120 a shot. The side effects of the vaccine are swelling, itching and redness, and pain at the injection site. Though the vaccine may be affective, it should not replace regular pap smear exams.

More on the Gardasil Controversy

Abstinence advocates argue that vaccinating young women promotes intercourse at a young age, since HPV is contracted only through genital contact. Some states are even arguing about making the vaccine mandatory. Other opponents against the vaccine also argue that only a small number of people who do wind up with cervical cancer die from it, just one percent of over 670,000 new cases, and only one percent of over 250,000 anticipated cancer deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, between 1955 and 1992, the number of cervical cancer deaths has dropped by 74 percent, and continue to drop each year. With the number of deaths due to cervical cancer dropping, is the vaccine worth mandating to young women?