Our focus on Women's health this month discusses topics that affect women's health at all ages including Prevention, fertility and much more. A significant issue that has been in the news for some time now is the discussion of the vaccine that prevents HPV -- Human Papaloma Virus. Last week the FDA reported that they were considering expanding the use of this vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in women ages 27 to 45. The decision is expected to be made by the summer of 2008.
There are dozens of different types of HPV, but those targeted by the vaccine account for more than 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Gardasil, made by Merck & Co., currently is approved for use in girls and women aged 9 through 26 to block four types of human papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Merck noted that the reason to expand to women in this age group is because women are at risk of becoming infected with HPV throughout their lives. The government estimates that more than 6 million Americans get a new infection of HPV each year.
An important fact to note is that this vaccine is purely preventive and does not cure an existing HPV infection. It can however prevent future infections, which is why its recommended for girls before they become sexually active. Researchers also found that few women were infected by all four types of the HPV virus so getting the vaccine could protect them from any one of the four they had not contracted.
Given the potential of this vaccine, the decision of the FDA will be a very important one this summer. It's important for women to discuss the HPV vaccine with their OBGYN/Physicians to get all the facts to help them make informed decisions about the use of this vaccine.
Reena
