HPV Vaccination
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved quadrivalent human papilloma virus recombinant vaccine. The trade name for this product is Gardasil. This new vaccine helps protect against diseases caused by the human papillomavirus, which you may know as HPV. You also may know that HPV is associated with the occurrence of cervical cancer and genital warts. Our studies show that if we can prevent the acquisition of HPV, that we can prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer and genital warts in a very high percentage of patients.
The FDA has approved vaccination in females 9 to 26 years of age for prevention of the following diseases caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Types 6, 11, 16, and 18:
* Cervical cancer
* Genital warts (condyloma acuminata) and the following precancerous or dysplastic lesions:
* Cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)
* Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 and grade 3
* Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) grade 2 and grade 3
* Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) grade 2 and grade 3
* Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1It is anticipated that the insurance industry will embrace this advance and pay for the immunizations (which cost approximately $600 for a series of three vaccinations) in the next several months; so you may want to see when and if that happens. If you do not want to wait for the medical-industrial insurance complex pay for this, please consider beginning immunizations in the immediate future.
As a practical matter, a number of questions arise. Here are the two most common questions and their answers:
1. What if I am older than 26 and continue to have exposure with sexual activity? You will want to consider immunization although the FDA has not endorsed this and the insurance companies may not pay for it.
2. If I have already acquired HPV, should I be immunized? Yes, since the vaccination immunizes against the 4 most troublesome HPV strains, you can be protected from acquiring additional strainsPlease let us know if you are interested in beginning immediate immunizations. If you prefer to wait until the insurance company's begin approving payment, be sure to let us know of your interest in the future. If it is more convenient for you to receive these vaccinations from you gynecologist, please let him or her know of your interest. You will want to continue or incorporate safe sexual practices as a matter of routine both before and after immunization.
Here some excellent resources if you want to explore more of the details regarding this wonderful advance:
1. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) is the best site: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-Vaccine.htm
2. The FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/CBER/products/hpvmer060806qa.htm
3. The National Cancer Institute website: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/HPV-vaccine
