Here's some information to help you get started:There is now a vaccine that prevents the types of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccine is called Gardasil and is given in three shots over a six month period. The vaccine is routinely recommended for 11 and 12 year old girls. It is also recommended for girls and women age 13 through 26 who have not yet been vaccinated or completed the vaccine series.
Genital HPV is a common virus that is passed on through genital contact, most often during sex. There are about 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of men and women. Most HPV types cause no symptoms and go away on their own. But some types can cause cervical cancer in women and other less common genital cancers— like cancers of the anus, vagina, and vulva (area around the opening of the vagina). Other types of HPV can cause warts in the genital areas of men and women, called genital warts. Genital warts are not a life-threatening disease. But they can cause emotional stress and their treatment can be very uncomfortable.
Most sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives, though most will never even know it. It is most common in people in their late teens and early 20s.
Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 4,000 women die from this disease in the U.S.
About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. (or 1 million people) have visible genital warts at any point in time.
The retail price of the vaccine is about $125 per dose ($375 for full series). Some insurance will cover the full trial. For more information, speak with your general practitioner or OB-GYN.Obtained from: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
