HPV viruses are 150 related viruses called human papillomavirus, which causes genital warts, or papillomas, which are non-cancer causing tumors although some of them are known to cause cancer. HPV is what causes cervical cancer, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and throat or tongue cancers. Cancer can happen in the vagina, the anus, cervix, vulva, and outside of the vagina. You get cancer from the foreskin and urethra of the penis.
HPV can cause cancer of the inner nose, mouth, and throat, but not limited to the trachea, and bronchi. There is even the possibility of cancer of the eyelids, which the vaccine can protect against.
HPV causes warts on the skin, on the arms, chest, hands, and feet. The other 25% of the HPV virus causes mucosal HPV, which infects the moist surface of layers that line organs and cavities of the body on the outside.
Mucosal HPV types are called genital type HPVs that infect the anal and genital area. Now there are vaccines that help prevent certain forms of HPV. Gardisil is available for people ages 15-45, which is given in three separate shots. The second shot is given 2 months after the first shot, with the third shot taken 4 months after the second shot. It takes 6 months to get three shots.
Some recommend that children get this vaccine at age 11 or 12, so as to be protected before they become sexually active. Some feel that the HPV vaccine should not be given to children, although this is why suggestions are made by professionals to get it while you are young in order to protect against certain cancers that would appear later in life. Pap/HPV tests help find a cell change that may lead to having cervical cancer.
Gardisil costs $250 but many health plans do cover it. Getting Garidsil is seen as a preventative measure before you become sexually active. IT has been on the market for the last 12 years but has only been approved for children ages 9-26.
New research then came to the conclusion that the age range should be expanded to 45. The vaccine is supposed to protect against warts and two strains of warts that can give you cancer. Men ages 13 to 21 need the HPV vaccine.
Pre-teens have a better immune response to the vaccine compared to people in their late teens or early 20s. The vaccine is proven safe, but not as effective when users get older.
Pregnant women should not get vaccinated for HPV even if they appear to be safe for the mother and the baby. But this is not a reason to consider ending a pregnancy if a pregnant mother does get a vaccine for HPV.
Health care providers have to know about any major allergies that may cause a reaction to the vaccine, such as allergies to latex, yeast, or any life-threatening reaction to any vaccine ingredient. Testing before getting a vaccine could be useless.
It is useless to only because this vaccine cannot be proven effective with a test. A negative test cannot tell you if you’ve had HJPV in the past.
There is no sign that the protection for the vaccine decreases with time. These vaccines are monitored for safety despite side effects like headache, fever, nausea, and dizziness with pain and redness at the injection site.
Some people may faint after getting this vaccine or any other vaccine. Women who have been vaccinated for HPV still need pap tests since the vaccine does not prevent all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.