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What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause genital warts and cervical cancer and affects both men and women. What a lot of people do not know is that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Currently, around 20 million people are infected with HPV. At least 50% of people who have had sex will have HPV at some time in their lives. Anyone who has had any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact with an infected person can get HPV. A person is more likely to get HPV if they have:
sex at an early age
multiple sex partners
a sex partner who has had multiple partners
What are the signs and symptoms of HPV?
Most people who have HPV do not know they are infected, yet can still transmit the virus to a sex partner. The virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually does not cause any symptoms. However, some people get visible genital warts or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vagina, anus, or penis. Genital warts may appear
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within weeks, months, or not at all.
What is Gardasil® and how does it work?
Gardasil® is a vaccine approved for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26 to prevent HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts cases, and types 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. Gardasil® works by causing the body to produce its own protection against HPV. Gardasil® may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important to continue getting annual Pap tests (cervical cancer screenings). Gardasil® is given as three intramuscular injections over six months, the second and third shots given two and six months after the first shot, respectively. It is best to get the shot before the start of sexual activity. Women who are breastfeeding or have a weakened immune system due to a disease may still receive the vaccine since Gardasil® does not contain the live HPV virus.
Who should not receive Gardasil®?
You should not receive Gardasil® if you:
have developed a hypersensitiv
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ity after the previous dose
are allergic to any of its ingredients
have a history of an allergic reaction to yeast
are pregnant or may become pregnant
What are the possible side effects of Gardasil®?
The main possible side effects of Gardasil® include pain, itching, swelling, and redness at the injection site as well as slight fever.
Gardasil® is between 95-100% effective in preventing HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, so many women may benefit from the vaccine. For additional information about whether Gardasil® is right for you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, or visit www.gardasil.com.
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