The good news is that many people are not affected by the virus at all. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, and about 40 of them affect the genital region. Most people with healthy immune systems will not be affected by the virus and will never know they have it. Unfortunately, some strains are more aggressive than others, and there are many reasons why someone’s immune system could be compromised (illness, pregnancy, smoking, another infection). When this happens, low-risk strains of the virus can take the opportunity to cause genital warts, which must be removed by a clinician, with no promise that they won’t return. Warts are unsightly, uncomfortable and socially embarrassing, but they will not affect your health.
 Our true concern comes when high-risk strains of the virus have the opportunity to compromise the cells on a woman’s cervix, causing cervical dysplasia and if not taken care of, can lead to cervical cancer. We have amazing screening techniques in this country, and if a woman is receiving her annual Pap test and is being treated for anything abnormal she has an extremely low chance of developing cervical cancer. However, treatment does involve disturbing the cervix which can have later negative implications for pregnancy and childbirth. Each year, there are around 11,000 cases of cervical cancer in the U.S., and about 3500 deaths from the disease.
Planned Parenthood encourages women to be screened annually for cervical cancer, starting three years after they become sexually active or when they reach age 21 (whichever comes first).
The HPV Vaccine
Our goal this month is to increase awareness of the availability of and the need for the HPV vaccination. Gardasil will protect BOTH girls and boys from becoming infected with the two strains of HPV that cause 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts cases. Currently, Gardasil is only FDA approved to protect boys from warts, but we hope that an added benefit will be less transmission of the high-risk strains that cause cervical cancer in women. It is very important that children are vaccinated before initiating any type of sexual contact, to minimize their risk of infection.
The vaccine includes a series of three shots that must be given within a 6-month period. Most insurance plans will cover at least a portion of the vaccine, and uninsured children 18 and younger can receive the vaccine for free through Virginia’s Vaccines for Children program. There is also a Merck (the pharmaceutical company that provides Gardasil) assistance program for uninsured or underinsured young adults between 19 and 26. There is no reason why someone should decide not to be vaccinated due to cost.
Currently, at least 1 in 4 teen girls has a sexually transmitted infection, creating more urgency than ever to ensure young people are vaccinated against HPV. There is no reason why the next generation of women should have to deal with cervical dysplasia and cancer at nearly the current rate when this exciting vaccine is readily available.
It’s working!
A new study out of Australia shows that has helped reduce the number of teenage girls developing cervical abnormalities by as much as 50 percent. “The researchers compared pap smear test results of girls after they received Merck & Co's Gardasil vaccine in a national, public-funded vaccination program in 2007 and 2008 with test results of earlier batches of girls who were never vaccinated.
Proportionately fewer of the vaccinated girls (0.42 percent) were found with high-grade cervical abnormalities compared to unvaccinated girls (0.8 percent), said the researchers, who published their study results in The Lancet journal.
"This data ... shows a reduction in the number of very young woman with high grade cervical lesions diagnosed since the vaccine program started," said Julia Brotherton, an epidemiologist with the Victorian Cytology Service Registries and lead author of the paper.
<"In conjunction with the data from our colleagues in the sexual health field, who have already demonstrated a significant reduction in the occurrence of genital warts since the vaccine program started, we are optimistic that this is an indication that the vaccine program is already beginning to have an impact.">” (Rueters.com)
Virginia is ahead of the game!
The state of Virginia passed legislation in 2008 to require all middle school-age girls to receive the Gardasil vaccination, although parents do have the choice to opt out. Virginia is still the only state in the country to require the vaccination.
PPSEV accepts most forms of health insurance, as well as Medicaid. We also participate in the Virginia Vaccines For Children program as it relates to Gardasil, as well as the Merck Assistance Program. Call one of our two local health centers today to make an appointment, or visit our Web site for more information at www.ppsev.org.
To learn more about our quest or how you can help, contact us at 499-PLAN or e-mail us at marketing@ppsev.org!
To learn more about Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia, visit www.ppsev.org or call us at 499-PLAN (7536).
Erin Zabel is the director of marketing and public relations for PPSEV. She can be reached at 309-4834 or marketing@ppsev.org. | 
