Thanks to recent developments in science and medicine, treatments for and preventive measures to avoid several illnesses previously considered incurable have been made available to the public. 

One of the most recent advancements in medicine is a drug called Gardasil, the first vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer due to human papillomavirus (HPV).

Many of you might be hearing this term for the first time. You may be wondering what exactly is HPV and what is its relationship with cancer? The term “HPV” refers to a group of more than one hundred viruses that affect the skin and mucous membranes, such as the lining of your mouth or the hood of your clitoris or penis. The problem is that HPV can sometimes turn into cancer if it is not detected in time. It is a very common sexually transmitted infection, affecting at least 50% of sexually active Americans at some point in their lifetimes, according to a study conducted by the American Social Heath Association. 

HPV is easily transmitted through any sort of sexual contact with an infected person, although the symptoms may not appear for weeks or even years afterward or, in some cases, not at all. People between the ages of fifteen and thirty years old with multiple unprotected sexual partners are at the highest risk of contracting this infection.  

Depending on the type of HPV contracted, the symptoms vary, ranging from skin warts in the hands and feet to genital warts, which can become extremely uncomfortable but are easily treated or may disappear on their own. These strains of HPV are considered low-risk. A high-risk HPV infection can lead to cervical cancer, which can take many years to develop and detect. In some cases, it may not be detected until the cancer has spread. 

Until now, the most important step that had to be taken against cervical cancer was a Papanicolaou screening, most commonly known as a Pap smear. This is a test that consists of taking a small sample of cells from the cervix and examining it under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. This process is 85–95% effective in detecting cancer of the cervix.  

Women should not stop undergoing these examinations at least once a year, but there is now another option to prevent cervical cancer resulting from HPV. The vaccine, Gardasil, has proven to be highly effective in preventing four types of HPV in women who have not previously been exposed to the virus without any signs of serious side effects, aside from a brief soreness at the injection site. 

With this in mind, the next question to ask is: Who should get vaccinated and what is the process like? The vaccine is recommended for girls who have not yet been exposed to the virus or are not sexually active, and also for young women up to twenty-six years old who have not been previously vaccinated. The vaccine is delivered in a series of three injections over a period of six months and, at this point, the protection lasts for five years. 

Gardasil was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective method in preventing cervical cancer due to four types of HPV, but it is not for everyone. Males, people allergic to yeast, pregnant women, and people who have been previously exposed to the virus should not get vaccinated. In addition, it is very important to get the three doses of the vaccine for complete protection, as the lack of one or two doses may render the vaccine useless.

The fact is that Gardasil has been rendered safe and effective, so every eligible girl or young woman should get vaccinated as soon as possible. The cost of each injection of the vaccine is $120, for a total of $360, and is now covered by most insurance plans. As always in these cases, consult your doctor before making a decision.

By Myriam Camhi

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UPMC