HPV
There is currently more and more publicity on Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV 16) and its related vaccine. What is the bottom line on the vaccine?
HPV 16 accounts for about half of all cervical cancers in women in the United States. Recent studies have shown the vaccine to be effective in preventing infection in women who were seronegative at entry into the study. The only women to turn positive were those in the placebo group that did not receive the vaccine.
HPV infection of the genital area is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). HPV-16 is one of the viruses in the HPV family that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect nearly any part of the genital area in men and women. It usually has no symptoms and rarely do the individuals know they are infected.
Some strains are categorized as high risk because of their propensity to cause cancer and others are low risk. Some strains cause the typical genital warts which can be single or multiple and may grow like a cauliflower.
Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.
The types of HPV that infect the genital area are spread primarily through genital contact and most infections have no signs or symptoms to indicate the person is infected. It has been reported that a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery although this is thought to be rare. After sexual contact with an infected person, warts may appear within weeks or months, or not at all.
Genital warts are diagnosed by visual inspection. Visible genital warts can be removed by medications the patient applies, or by treatments performed by a physician.
Most women are diagnosed with HPV on the basis of abnormal Pap smear. A Pap smear is the primary cancer-screening tool for cervical cancer or pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, many of which are related to HPV. There is also a specific test available to detect HPV DNA in women and this test may be used in women with early or questionable changes on her exam. The results of HPV DNA testing can help health care providers decide if further tests or treatment are necessary.
There are currently no good HPV tests available for men.
There is no "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own. The treatments are directed at treating the skin or mucous membrane changes caused by infection.
All types of HPV can cause mild Pap test abnormalities. Only about 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead to development of cervical cancer.
A Pap smear can detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells. In 2004, the American Cancer Society estimated that about 10,520 women would develop invasive cervical cancer and about 3,900 women would die from this disease. The majority of women who die do not have regular cervical cancer screening with Pap smears.
The surest way to eliminate risk for genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual.
Individuals choosing to be sexually active should strive for a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship, with an uninfected partner.
Abstinence is the best policy for unmarried individuals. Monogamy is the best for married individuals and, overall, the fewer partners, the lower the risk.
Condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer, but it is unknown if they are truly effective in preventing HPV infections. In addition, there are casual ways to become infected with the HPV virus, but most authorities agree that sexual contact is by far the most common leading to genital HPV infection.
QUESTIONS:
Knowing that infection with HPV is the leading risk factor for later developing cervical cancer, the question remains; should we immunize adolescent girls for this sexually transmitted disease?
What message are we sending girls if we encourage this vaccine?
What are the moral questions related to this vaccine or other vaccines that are primarily directed against high risk behaviors?
Since the morbidity of teen pregnancy is so much higher than the morbidity and mortality of HPV, why don’t we just require all females at time of menarche to begin Depo-Provera every 3 months to prevent pregnancy?
The rationale is similar!!
HPV 16 accounts for about half of all cervical cancers in women in the United States. Recent studies have shown the vaccine to be effective in preventing infection in women who were seronegative at entry into the study. The only women to turn positive were those in the placebo group that did not receive the vaccine.
HPV infection of the genital area is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). HPV-16 is one of the viruses in the HPV family that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect nearly any part of the genital area in men and women. It usually has no symptoms and rarely do the individuals know they are infected.
Some strains are categorized as high risk because of their propensity to cause cancer and others are low risk. Some strains cause the typical genital warts which can be single or multiple and may grow like a cauliflower.
Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.
The types of HPV that infect the genital area are spread primarily through genital contact and most infections have no signs or symptoms to indicate the person is infected. It has been reported that a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery although this is thought to be rare. After sexual contact with an infected person, warts may appear within weeks or months, or not at all.
Genital warts are diagnosed by visual inspection. Visible genital warts can be removed by medications the patient applies, or by treatments performed by a physician.
Most women are diagnosed with HPV on the basis of abnormal Pap smear. A Pap smear is the primary cancer-screening tool for cervical cancer or pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, many of which are related to HPV. There is also a specific test available to detect HPV DNA in women and this test may be used in women with early or questionable changes on her exam. The results of HPV DNA testing can help health care providers decide if further tests or treatment are necessary.
There are currently no good HPV tests available for men.
There is no "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own. The treatments are directed at treating the skin or mucous membrane changes caused by infection.
All types of HPV can cause mild Pap test abnormalities. Only about 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead to development of cervical cancer.
A Pap smear can detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells. In 2004, the American Cancer Society estimated that about 10,520 women would develop invasive cervical cancer and about 3,900 women would die from this disease. The majority of women who die do not have regular cervical cancer screening with Pap smears.
The surest way to eliminate risk for genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual.
Individuals choosing to be sexually active should strive for a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship, with an uninfected partner.
Abstinence is the best policy for unmarried individuals. Monogamy is the best for married individuals and, overall, the fewer partners, the lower the risk.
Condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer, but it is unknown if they are truly effective in preventing HPV infections. In addition, there are casual ways to become infected with the HPV virus, but most authorities agree that sexual contact is by far the most common leading to genital HPV infection.
QUESTIONS:
Knowing that infection with HPV is the leading risk factor for later developing cervical cancer, the question remains; should we immunize adolescent girls for this sexually transmitted disease?
What message are we sending girls if we encourage this vaccine?
What are the moral questions related to this vaccine or other vaccines that are primarily directed against high risk behaviors?
Since the morbidity of teen pregnancy is so much higher than the morbidity and mortality of HPV, why don’t we just require all females at time of menarche to begin Depo-Provera every 3 months to prevent pregnancy?
The rationale is similar!!
posted by Anonymous at 9:38 PM
2 Comments:
Thanks for the info on the HPV. I have seen commercials on TV about how it is a virus that can cause cervical cancer, but I did not know it is a STD.
I think we would be sending a very bad message to teenage girls if this vaccine was encouraged!
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