Controversy About the Vaccine Against HPV (Genital Warts) And Cervical Cancer

There is much excitement in the scientific and medical community about the development of a vaccine against the virus that is the cause of cervical cancer. This vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV), also known as genital warts, is also believed by many in the medical and scientific community to prevent future cervical cancer. While the vaccine is very effective against the virus associated with causing cervical cancer, long term studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness. It's one thing for parents to be aware the vaccination is being administered to guard against genital wart infection transmitted during sexual activity and is likely to reduce risk of cervical cancer. It's quite another to be told the vaccination is certain to guard against cervical cancer later in life. It's important to have the background information to make an informed decision about this vaccination.

The Journal of the American Medical Association presents follow up information on the risks of the vaccine against HPV(1). There is also a special communication(2) that discusses concerns about the way this vaccine was presented to the public by the manufacturer and professional medical associations.

The review of complications associated with the vaccine indicates that there may have been an increased risk of blood clots in the veins and fainting episodes. All other side effects, including 32 deaths after the vaccine, were considered to be consistent with what would happen to the general population without having received the vaccine.

Some of the issues discussed regarding the vaccine and its marketing and presentation were several fold:

The vaccine is, thus far, believed to be safe and effective in preventing infection with the virus that is implicated in the development of cervical cancer.

The vaccine was marketed by the manufacturer and professional medical associations as a vaccine to guard against cervical cancer as opposed to the primary target of HPV.

There are no long term studies to confirm effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer.

The vaccine was not directed to the highest risk population, where it would do the most good.

Cervical cancer can be screened for effectively by Pap smears which can also prevent this disease.

One author also presented concern about the role of professional medical associations in promoting the vaccine due to their being supported by the manufacturer and possibly being influenced by this. The final editorial comment concludes with the following statement. "When weighing evidence about risks and benefits, it is also appropriate to ask who takes the risk, and who gets the benefit. Patients and the public logically expect that only medical and scientific evidence is put on the balance. If other matters weigh in, such as profit for a company or financial or professional gains for physicians or groups of physicians, the balance is easily skewed. The balance will also tilt if the adverse events are not calculated correctly." (3)

The decision to vaccinate or not vaccinate should be made with full informed consent between the patient or their guardian and their provider.

Postlicensure Safety Surveillance for Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine: Barbara A. Slade; Laura Leidel; Claudia Vellozzi; Emily Jane Woo; Wei Hua; Andrea Sutherland; Hector S. Izurieta; Robert Ball; Nancy Miller; M. Miles Braun; Lauri E. Markowitz; John Iskander: JAMA. 2009; 302(7):750-757.

Marketing HPV Vaccine: Implications for Adolescent Health and Medical Professionalism: Sheila M. Rothman; David J. Rothman: JAMA. 2009; 302(7):781-786

The Risks and Benefits of HPV Vaccination: Charlotte Haug: JAMA. 2009; 302(7):795-796.

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If symptoms of genital warts are not treated early, can lead to cervical cancer

Symptoms of genital warts - If detected early and treated, can reduce the likelihood of developing cancer of the cervix.

Symptoms of genital warts can be many, and can even be confused with other diseases. This is especially true in terms of genital HPV infection is manifested in the form of physical warts. Note that although HPV has no cure so far, it is easy to find a cure for genital warts.

What are the> Symptoms of genital warts? Like many other STDs, HPV infection often causes no symptoms. A study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) reported that nearly half of all women with HPV had no obvious symptoms. However In many cases, small, hard (easily visible to the eye) can develop within three weeks to three months after exposure.

In women, warts can occur on the lips of the vagina, the vaginaor around the anus. Genital warts can cause itching. Women also develop cervical warts, which are flat lesions invisible in their early stages.

Other symptoms may include:

Cauliflower growths that appear around the anus or genitals
Increased dampness or moisture in the area of ​​injury
Itchy penis, scrotum, anal or vulvar itching
Increased vaginal discharge
Abnormal vaginal bleeding (not associated with the menstrual cycle)after sex

You can have all the symptoms of genital warts, but not yet physically on your genitals. One possible reason for the symptoms of genital warts are mistaken for other thing is that warts can be almost invisible to the naked eye.

In these circumstances, your doctor will consider the symptoms and the use of a variety of methods to determine if you have genital warts. One of the most common is a small dropamount of acetic acid (vinegar) in the suspected infected area of ​​warts.

Symptoms of genital warts may also lose if they occur within the walls of the vagina. In this case, the symptoms may be another disorder called yeast infection. That's why it's a good idea to seek immediate professional help when signs of genital warts are detected.

Get the most accurate diagnosis of the symptoms you are seeing is of vital importance, the lastcar you want is the diagnosis and the probability of error is high, and then take a completely different condition. This may have implications further in the sense that the use of the wrong drug for the treatment of a disorder that can leave your body adjusts to the drug, making it useless when you need it most.

The disadvantage would be to ignore the symptoms of genital warts and leave the condition untreated, leads to more serious conditions such as'cervical cancer. One possibility is even more worrying if you have symptoms of recurrent genital warts can be a sign of cervical cancer or even HIV-AIDS.

Therefore, the severity and urgency of an appropriate control when you see one of these symptoms is essential. You will be able to receive adequate treatment is necessary to help get rid of genital warts.

It should be noted that even if you can find a cure for genitalwarts treated with the announcement right to fight the symptoms, the underlying virus, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can not be cured. You have to rely on the immune system to help fight the HPV virus.

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