Women's Health: Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine- the Vaccine to Cancer

HPV stands for the Human Papillona Virus. It is commonly transmitted through sexual contact and chooses no gender as it can infect both men and women. There are conditions that it may cause genital warts however not all types show this symptom or show no symptoms at all.

One of the severe result of the HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus is the cervical cancer. HPV also results to genital warts, skin warts and other STI.

HPV infection can be avoided with the HPV Vaccine and also through regular pap smear screening.

While genital warts may be one of the most common symptom of HPV infection, skin warts can vary according to the severity. HPV-1 and HPV-2 can cause common warts which are mostly found on the hands and the feet.

Genital warts are quite contagious, while common, flat, and plantar warts are much less likely to spread from person to person.

The infection which is often silent becomes a problem when warts appear or cause abnormal precancerous cells on the neck of the womb (cervix) in a woman. Genital Warts can be of various sizes form miniscule to massive. They can be silent without symptoms or very troublesome with irritation, discharge, bleeding or discomfort.

HPV infection. Approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and another 6.2 million people become newly infected each year. At least 50% of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.

Genital warts. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.

Cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, 11,070 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S.

Other HPV-related cancers are much less common than cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, there will be:

* 3,460 women diagnosed with vulvar cancer;
* 2,210 women diagnosed with vaginal and other female genital cancers;
* 1,250 men diagnosed with penile and other male genital cancers; and
* 3,050 women and 2,020 men diagnosed with anal cancer.

Certain populations may be at higher risk for HPV-related cancers, such as gay and bisexual men, and individuals with weak immune systems (including those who have HIV/AIDS).

Cervical cancer is malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area. It may present with vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be absent until the cancer is in its advanced stages.Treatment consists of surgery (including local excision) in early stages and chemotherapy and radiotherapy in advanced stages of the disease.

Knowing Cervical Cancer in-depth

Cervical cancer is a malignant growth of cancer tissues where the cervix is the affected area. Symptoms may be absent until the cancer reached its advanced stage.

HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus is one of the factors that lead to the growth of cervical cancer.

Symptoms of cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding, contact bleeding or sometimes moderate pain during sexual intercourse.Also, weight loss, fatigue and pains are often experienced.

Pap smear screening. Regular consultation with the doctor can help determine early stages of HPV infection which may result to cervical cancer.

It is often recommended that women get a Pap test no later than 3 years after their first sexual encounter and no later than 21 years of age. Women should have a Pap test every year until age 30.

HPV Vaccine

A prophylactic HPV vaccine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the Gardasil.

With a study conducted, adult women with a mean age of 23, showed protection against initial infection with HPV types 16 and 18, which together cause 70% of cervical cancers, and can cause other cancers, such as anal cancer.

Moreover, protection against HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90 percent of genital warts was also included in the use of the HPV vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is 3 jabs given over a 6 month period and once the course is complete there will be no follow up required. It is important however that you complete the course otherwise there is no guarantee of protection from the vaccine. The science of this HPV vaccination is still growing and it may be that in the future you may be advised to have a booster shot, but this is an issue that is not resolved. Studies show that women are still fully protected more than five years after the vaccination.