A vaccine to prevent most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts will soon be available at your doctor’s office.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Gardasil™, a vaccine that prevents infection against four subtypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is a family of viruses—many of which can be transmitted through sex. These related viruses are each called subtypes. One of the issues that trouble doctors is that condoms are not particularly effective in protecting against HPV.
The vaccine prevents infection by two HPV subtypes that account for 70 percent of precancerous and cancerous cervical disease. The drug also protects against two additional subtypes that cause 90 percent of genital warts in men and women.
“This is a groundbreaking advance in our fight against cervical cancer and its related diseases,” said David P. Warshal, M.D., Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Center at Cooper.
Up to 80 percent of sexually active people have had an HPV infection during their lifetimes. However, most women who are infected with HPV overcome the infection without ever knowing they had it.
“In the United States alone, the vaccine could prevent most of the 10,000 cervical cancers that occur annually as well as most of the half million cases of precancerous cervical disease and the even greater number of genital warts that require treatment each year,” Dr. Warshal said.
The FDA approved the vaccine for females 9 to 26 years old.
“Ideally, the vaccine should be given to girls between 9 and 12 years of age, before they become sexually active since the vaccine is designed to prevent infection, not treat it,” he said.
He expects the FDA will approve the vaccine for men soon once further studies are completed.
The vaccine is given through three injections during a six-month period. Of the 25,000 people who have received the vaccine in clinical trials, no major side effects were reported. The most common complaints were soreness at the injection site and fever.
Vaccination does not mean that women don’t need annual gynecologic exams or Pap smears. This medication does not prevent all cases of cervical cancer. Also, precancerous cervical disease and early cervical cancers usually do not cause symptoms. As cervical cancers grow, they often cause:
Women with these symptoms should contact their gynecologists immediately.
This article was reviewed by David P. Warshal, M.D., Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Center at Cooper.
To make an appointment with a Cooper University Hospital physician at an office near you, please call 1-800-8-COOPER to speak with a member of our physician referral and information service.
Learn more about the Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper by visiting www.coopercancer.org
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