Healthy You Article – January 9, 2009

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
By Mary Perkins – Wellness Center Manager

If there was a vaccine that the doctor could give your daughter that would decrease her chances of contracting cervical cancer, genital warts, or lesions of the vagina, cervix, and vulva in her lifetime, would you want to learn more? January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, making this a great time for women to take time to educate themselves about cervical cancer and understand that this disease is preventable.

At this time, there is an approved a vaccine available recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is intended for girls and women, nine to 26 years of age, to protect against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause diseases of the genital area.

What exactly is HPV?
There are over 100 different types of the Human Papillomavirus. Most of the strains of this common virus cause no harm and go away on their own. The CDC estimates that over 50% of sexually active people catch some type of HPV in their lifetime. 80% of females acquire HPV by age 50. Many show no symptoms of the virus but may pass it on to others through genital contact. Some strains of this virus, however, may cause diseases of the genital area. Scientists have isolated HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 as the cause of 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. Approximately 10,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the U.S. costing approximately $5 billion in health care costs.

A vaccine is now available
Gardasil, a vaccine manufactured by the Merck Pharmaceutical Company, is now
Available to females to be administered before they become exposed to HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18, preferably before they become sexually active. The vaccine does not protect against HPV types to which females have been previously exposed.

Females being vaccinated for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 must get a series of three shots. The first shot is given at a scheduled visit to the doctor’s office. The second dose is injected two months after the first dose. The third, and last, dose is given six months after the first dose. All three shots are necessary for the best protection.

Side effects are rare
While most patients being vaccinated with Gardasil do not have side effects, the doctor should be informed if there is any allergic reaction to the first dose of the vaccine. This could present as pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, fever, or dizziness. The doctor should also be informed if the patient has a bleeding disorder, has a weakened immune system, or if she is on any medications, either prescribed or over-the- counter.

Patients should not be immunized with Gardasil if they have had an allergic reaction to the first vaccination, is allergic to any of the ingredients in Gardasil, or is someone who is pregnant or is planning on becoming pregnant. All women should continue routine cervical cancer screenings as part of healthy maintenance plan

While Gardasil may not fully protect everyone and does not protect against other non
HPV diseases, it is a good first step in protecting young women from facing cervical cancer in their future. Take a few minutes during the month of January to learn more about cervical cancer and Gardasil by visiting http://www.nccc-online.org.

"HEALTHY YOU” is a weekly column prepared by health care providers and staff at North Country Hospital and Health System. For information or to suggest a topic for this column, please call Mary Perkins, Wellness Center Manager, 334-3226, or email mperkins@nchsi.org.