HPV Treatment Options: Using a Natural HPV Treatment to Control HPV Symptoms

There are over 130 types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Of these, about 30-40 strains are transmitted through sexual contact which may result in genital warts or the development of cervical cancer.

In fact, most cases of cervical cancer resulted from an HPV infection. Unfortunately, many of those infected with HPV simply do not know they have the disease, as the virus does not always produce physical symptoms such as genital warts.

The only sure way to detect the presence of HPV is through medical testing such as a Pap test. While the Pap test will reveal abnormal cells which can then be examined to detect HPV, the reality is that millions of women around the world do not have access to gynecological testing facilities. Sadly, despite significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of HPV, thousands of women will die each year as a result of this virus.

If you have been diagnosed with HPV, you will be presented with a variety of treatment options by your medical provider including taking prescription medicines. However, you will also have the option of using natural HPV treatments. People choose alternative HPV treatments for a variety of reasons including the expense of prescriptions as well as a personal philosophy that supports holistic treatments.

Whichever the case may be, it is important that you do your research before purchasing any HPV product. It is also important to note that those HPV products which do not list their ingredients on their website should be avoided.

However, before you decide on a treatment, you will need to address your overall health. This includes ensuring that you are avoiding unhealthy activities such as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and smoking. You will also want to talk to your medical provider about going on a diet and developing a regular exercise routine. This is because the healthier you are, the more your body will be able to control your disease. Once you have established a healthy lifestyle, you are ready to explore a variety of treatment options including using safe, all-natural HPV supplements.

Effective Ingredients

One of the most important things you can do when researching potential natural HPV products is to study the list of ingredients. This is because specific natural ingredients such as Lycopene, Propolis, and Turmeric have been proven to shorten the time that HPV remains in the body.

For example, research shows that women with high levels of Lycopene in their system quickly remove HPV from their body, 8.5 months, on average. This is compared with women who have low levels of Lycopene, in which it takes 11 months on average to remove HPV.

Another example is evident in the healing properties of Turmeric. Multiple studies have proven that Turmeric can help prevent certain kinds of cancer from developing including cervical cancer. Countries like India whose national diet includes curry, which contains Turmeric, experience fewer cases of cancer than other countries do.

Therefore, if you plan to use a safe, all-natural HPV treatment, be sure that it includes these proven ingredients. You may also want to ensure that the supplement includes a variety of vitamins and minerals which have proven to improve the immune system. The healthier the immune system, the more the body will be able to control HPV.

Elton Grant - About the Author:

For a safe and effective natural HPV treatment, please visit the home page of Viralfree.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/hpv-treatment-options-using-a-natural-hpv-treatment-to-control-hpv-symptoms-900951.html

Gardasil: The Hpv Vaccine

Gardasil: The HPV Vaccine

The vaccine, Gardasil, is a shot given to prevent certain strains of cervical cancer caused by HPV. HPV stands for Human papillomavirus. The vaccine offers protection against the four most common strains of HPV; types 6, 11, 16 and 18. Types 16 and 18 account for 70% of cervical cancers while types 6 and 11 account for 90% of all cases of genital warts. It is given in three shots over a period of six-months. The vaccine is recommended for young girls ages 11 and 12 but is also recommended for girls and women 13 to 26 who have not yet been vaccinated or have not yet completed the series of shots for the vaccine. 

 

This vaccine is important in the saving of women's and young girls' lives. Genital HPV is a virus that is most often passed on through sexual contact. Though most will not know it, most sexually active people will get the virus at some point in their life. There is somewhere around 40 strains of HPV that can infect both men and women. Most strains cause no symptoms or harm and go away on their own. There are a few strains that can be deadly and cause cervical cancer in women as well as other genital cancers, while other strains of HPV can cause genital warts in both men and women.

 

It is ideal for females to receive Gardasil before they become sexually active and may be exposed to the virus. However, this is not to say that those who are already sexually active will not benefit from receiving the vaccine. Most females are not infected with all strains of HPV and therefore will still be protected from those types of the virus to which they have not yet been exposed. Both young girls and women do not need to receive a Pap or other tests before receiving Gardasil. Testing is currently underway to find out the effectiveness and safety of the virus on those over the age of 26. It has yet to be found if the vaccine is effective in men or young boys. If Gardasil is found effective, the vaccine may help to prevent genital warts as well as both penile and anal cancer.

 

Gardasil is highly effective in the prevention of HPV. Due to the fact that the vaccine will not fully treat HPV, the vaccine has little effect on the virus in women who have already been exposed to the disease. Research is being done to test how long the vaccine lasts and if there may be a need for a booster shot later down the road for those who are receiving the vaccine. The vaccine is not effective in protecting from all strains of HPV, rather it protects against the most common strains of cervical cancers, so it is very important that women continue their regular checkups and screenings. Gardasil has been approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as effective and safe. Side effects of the shot are typically soreness of the injection site, fever, nausea and dizziness as well as other rare side effects.

 

By contacting your health care provider, you can get information about coverage for the vaccine. Call the phone number on your medical card to learn more about co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, or other limitations. Most large insurance providers will cover the cost of the vaccine which is about $125 per dose, totaling about $375 for all three shots in the series. Those who are younger than 18 years of age may still be able to get Gardasil for free through the VFC (Vaccines for Children) program, although certain criteria and restrictions may apply. Merck, the maker of the vaccine, offers a vaccine assistance program to women who want to receive Gardasil but cannot afford it. In order to qualify for the program, women must be at least 19 years of age, uninsured, reside in the United States (need not be U.S. citizen), and have an annual income less than $20,800 for individuals, $28,000 for couples or $42,400 for a family of four. Texas, New Hampshire and South Dakota as well as other states have made the cost of the vaccine free or at low cost.

 

Women should continue regular cancer screenings and follow-ups. Pap smears can detect cell changes in the cervix before they turn into cancer. The HPV test can detect HPV on a woman's cervix, which can be done along with a Pap. There is no cure for HPV so the vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent cervical cancer as well as using protection. The vaccine is not to be used in place of other contraceptive devices. If a person is infected, it may take weeks, months or even years to see signs or symptoms and should be addressed right away. The choice is yours to make. Protect yourself.

http://cancer.about.com/od/cervicalcancer/a/whatishpv_2.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm

http://www.gardasil.com/hpv/hpv-types/index.html

Kaitlyn DeShong - About the Author:

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/gardasil-the-hpv-vaccine-811166.html

How Can I Prevent HPV Contamination?

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes genital warts. Unfortunately, HPV contamination is very common. In fact, HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease these days. More than a million Americans are diagnosed with HPV infection every year.

HPV is a microscopic virus that can often cause skin lesions and infections. These lesions in the form of warts usually grow in the genital or anal area. However, they can also develop on your lips or anywhere in your mouth.

Genital warts often appear as small and individual warts, but they can also accumulate and form large clusters of warts. These clusters usually have a very fleshy and cauliflower-like look.

In its most basic state, the genital warts may be too small that they tend to be unnoticeable. In some cases, they are not externally visible. When genital warts appear in the internal part of the genital and the anal area, the patient can only tell that he has the infection if the warts will be painful and itchy.

Once a person gets infected with the HPV, symptoms do not appear right away. Most of the time, it takes three weeks for the virus to incubate and show preliminary signs. In some cases, the incubation period may take months and even years. However, only one percent of those who are infected with the HPV develop signs and symptoms. This is probably why people may not be aware that they are actually HPV infected. In effect, some people may be spreading the virus to their sexual partners without even knowing that they are doing so.

A person with the HPV infection can easily spread the disease by having any form of sexual contact with another person. If you are sexually active, you can easily get infected. That is why you must take extreme precautionary measures. Below are some ways to prevent HPV contamination.

a. The best way to avoid HPV infection is to avoid having sex.

Abstinence ensures that you will not be infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases such as genital herpes and syphilis. However, if you opt to engage in a sexual intercourse, make sure that you practice safe sex.

b. Before you engage in sexual intercourse, make sure that your partner is safe.

Before starting a sexual relationship, you should be aware of your partner's sexual background. Determine if he or she is highly at risk for having the infection based on his/her previous and present sexual relationships. Keep in mind that your partner may be HPV infected without being aware of it.

c. If you have a sexually transmitted infection, you should not have sex. Having one infection enhances your risks of getting another.

d. Never have sex with someone who has the signs and symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease.

e. Avoid having multiple sex partners. Having more than one sex partner significantly heightens your risk for getting the HPV infection.

f. When you have sex with someone who might be at risk for having an HPV infection, use condoms.

However, keep in mind that while condoms may decrease your risk for HPV transmission, they cannot provide you with full protection. Skin contact in the genital area may promote HPV contamination, especially if warts and lesions are visible in your partner's skin.

W. Darren - - About the Author:

For more information, kindly visit Genital Warts Support Team - a health resource dedicated to providing factual information about Genital Warts Treatment. Don't miss out the useful topics: "Cryotherapy for Genital Warts", "Myths and Misconceptions of Genital Warts" and more.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/how-can-i-prevent-hpv-contamination-790570.html

Why & How Our All-Natural Treatment Supplement for HPV Really Works!

We have been receiving a lot of questions about our product and why or how it works so well. So We figured the best way to tell you how this all-natural cure for HPV works is by showing you what amazing ingredients we incorporate into our wonderful product! Homeopathic Virus Inhibitor (HPVI) works because it combines some of the most powerful herbal extracts in the world together into one daily supplement that can help your body eradicate or force the HPV virus into cessation fast. We are sure that you may be wondering How  HPVI does this. So here is a breakdown of the active ingredients that are contained within our supplement, and just why they are so effective!***

Breakdown of just what amazing ingredients we use:

Acai Berry: Is one of the World’s most powerful antioxidants. This extract has been shown to provide increased energy levels, improved sexual performance, improved digestion, detoxification, high fiber content, improved skin appearance, improved heart health, improved sleep, reduction of cholesterol levels and the ability to combat free radicals; cells that cause cancer.

Grapeseed Extract: Is a powerful antioxidant that contains polyphenol, which is a resveratrol that has been shown to interfere with cancer cell growth and proliferation, as well as induce apoptosis, among a variety of potential chemopreventive effects.

Red Raspberry Seed: Is a powerful antioxidant that contains Ellagic acid which has been shown to have some anti-cancer properties. It can act as an antioxidant, and has been found to cause cell death in cancer cells in the laboratory. In other laboratory studies, ellagic acid seems to reduce the effect of estrogen in promoting growth of breast cancer cells in tissue cultures. There are also reports that it may help the liver to break down or remove some cancer-causing substances from the blood.

Burdock Root: Burdock has been used for centuries as a blood purifier, clearing the bloodstream of some toxins and as a diuretic (helping rid the body of excess water by increasing urine output), as well as a topical remedy for skin problems such as acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis, due to the strong antiviral and antibacterial properties it demonstrates.

Ashwagandha root: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb that is used as a general tonic by helping the body adapt to stress. Additionally, this herb has been shown to possess powerful antioxidant activity as well as an ability to support a healthy immune system by showing strong antiviral properties.

Echinacea Root (Angustifolia): Echinacea increases activity of the immune system. Unlike vaccines, which are only active only against specific diseases, Echinacea stimulates the overall activity of the cells responsible for fighting all different kinds of infections, both bacterial and viral. Unlike antibiotics, which are directly lethal to bacteria, Echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria, viruses and abnormal cells, including cancer cells.

Passion Flower: Has a long history of use among Native Americans in North America and were adapted by the European colonists. It has been used in many forms for thousands of years to treat insomnia, hysteria, and epilepsy, and is also valued for its painkilling, antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Fenugreek: Fenugreek has also been used topically and internally for thousands of years to treat inflammation, boils, wounds, and eczema; it also works as a powerful internal antiviral and antibacterial agent.

Hydrangea Root: Researchers at the Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Cambridge, Massachusetts identified a substance, halofuginone, that is found in the hydrangea root, and in other parts of the plant, that shows great promise for treating autoimmune diseases because of its strong antiviral properties.

Barberry Root: This herb has been used for thousands of years to relieve hepatitis, colic, jaundice, diabetes and consumption. It is a fast-acting and very powerful internal antiviral.

Germanium: Has been shown to have the ability to improve immune system functions in the body, and is commonly used a holistic method of treating cancer patients.

Suntheanine: Human clinical research has suggested that Suntheanine may have application in improving the quality of sleep, diminishing normal symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), improving learning performance, heightening mental acuity, promoting concentration, reducing negative side effects of caffeine and supporting the immune system, as well as reducing stress and anxiety levels and naturally treating depression.

Don’t go another day suffering from the debilitating effects of HPV (Genital human papillomavirus), order HPVI now, and be well on your way to an AFFORDABLE, SAFE & EFFECTIVE FREEDOM!*

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• Provides Your Body with the Ability to Fight Off and Eradicate the HPV Virus FAST!
• Most Powerful Formulation of All-Natural Antivirals & Antioxidants Known to Man!
• Created in State-of-the-Art GMP Certified Labs Using the Finest Ingredients!
• Contains Combinations of the World’s Most Potent All-Natural Antivirals!
• Combines Three High-Potency Antioxidants into One Daily Supplement!
• Incorporates Suntheanine—an active anti-stress and anti-anxiety ingredient in HPVI—something that no other natural cure for HPV addresses: Stress-Related Outbreaks!
• Effective Against All Forms of HVP, including Anal and Genital Warts!
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Finally, an All-Natural Remedy for HPV that REALLY WORKS!**

* See our Returns Policy for more information

**Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

*** Depending upon how long you have had the HPV virus, we always recommend using a full ninety day supply in order to see the desired results. Individual results may vary.

~The FDA does not recognize the practice of herbs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated any statement made herein. None of the information provided is meant to act as a prescription, medical advice or therapeutic advice. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. As with any dietary supplement, you should ALWAYS seek advice from a health care practitioner prior to use of any type of herb(s) or herbal products, if you are pregnant, nursing, have high blood pressure, heart or thyroid disease, diabetes, difficulty in urination, taking a Mao inhibitor, or any other prescription drug, or have any medical condition requiring a physician’s care. Always keep all herbal products, including HPVI, out of the reach of children.~

Exactly How Many Different Varieties of Hpv Strains are There?

Well, there’s about four major different types of warts, which can be broken up into, Common Warts, Plantar Warts, Genital Warts and Acrochordons. These warts are caused by approximately one hundred different HPV strains. Of these 100, about 30 are the HPV strains which cause genital warts.

And since 30 HPV strains, which can in turn lead to genital warts, is quite a large percentage it can to some extent explain why it’s so easy for anyone who is sexually active, within a non-monogamous relationship, to get genital warts. The definition of non-monogamous here being, if either you or your partner have multiple sexual partners.

It’s also true that if you have multiple sexual partners throughout your lifetime, you’re more liable to contract any one of the genital HPV strains than if you had a lifelong monogamous relationship. In fact the higher the number of sexual partners you have within your lifetime, the higher the risk of your going on to develop genital HPV.

And of these 30 or so HPV strains which do cause genital warts, they can also be separated into two categories, that of the high risk HPV strains and that of the low risk HPV strains. The low risk HPV strains will be the ones which give rise to genital warts. The high risk HPV strains are the ones that can lead to cancer of any of the effected areas.

That’s why especially with recurring genital warts, it’s necessary to be extra vigilant as the HPV infection you have could be of the high risk variety. Although genital warts can be treated or surgically removed, they are only the physical manifestation of the HPV strains. The actual human papilloma virus itself, cannot be cured as there is no cure for it. What is cured then is the wart, and not the virus which will need to be fought off by your immune system.

In the normal course of events HPV strains can linger in a person for a few months or even 1-2 years, it all depends on how strong and resilient your immune system is. That’s why you need to keep your immune system in tip-top shape, to be able to help fight off things as the HPV strains.

And that’s also why some of the treatments (both medical and natural) work on that premise and are geared to shore up flagging immune systems.

This is also the reason why people with medical conditions where their immune system is compromised, pregnant women, or people who have been taking immune suppressing drugs are more susceptible towards the virus and why the HPV strains will also manifest themselves in the form of genital warts more readily on these people.

This isn’t to say that just because you’re pregnant you’ll get genital warts, or just because you have a medical condition with a compromised immune system that you will get genital warts. It just means that you are more susceptible to developing genital warts than people whose immune systems are stronger and more able to ward off an attack of HPV strains.

If you are found to have genital warts, or carry the HPV strains, you might be referred to either a skin clinic or a sexually transmitted diseases center. Your physician might feel that you will get the necessary treatment at either of these centers as they deal with these types of infections on a daily basis.

In fact, for some treatment methods you might have to be referred to one of these centers. This can happen mainly if you need surgical methods to remove your warts instead of topical creams and solutions.

Muna wa Wanjiru - About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Curing Genital Warts for Years. For More Information on HPV Strains, Visit His Site at HPV Strains

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/exactly-how-many-different-varieties-of-hpv-strains-are-there-303263.html

Tackling The Hpv And Genital Warts Challenge

You can catch genital Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) through being sexually active with an infected person.

It is the most common sexually transmitted disease and can cause genital warts to develop in both men and women.

There are over 40 types of HPV which can affect the skin and mucous membranes around the genital area. Infection is possible in the cervix, anus and rectum, on the penis and in the lining of the vagina.

Statistics show, for example, that in the USA over 20 million people are infected with genital HPV, and over half of sexually active people are at some time likely be infected.

It is also significant that it can be passed by skin to skin contact of the genital area and so does not necessarily require penetrative sex for infection.

Of significant concern is that sometimes genital HPV shows no symptoms which means an infected person may not even realise they have a problem.

This can have very serious consequences for someone who has the higher risk type HPV because they can develop into cervical and other cancers.

What are the symptoms of infection?

A person infected with lower risk Human Papilloma Virus may develop genital warts around the groin, scrotum or penis in men or around or in the vagina, on the cervix or vulva in women.

The majority of these warts are caused by two types of HPV, types 6 and 11.

Sometimes a genital wart may be a small bump and can be either raised or simply flat, pink in colour and cauliflower shaped, and if you have sexual contact with an infected person the warts could develop from as little as a few weeks, a month or sometimes up to a number of years later.

Occasionally genital warts can cause bleeding from the urethra, a tube which carries urine, or the anus.

What should you do if you think you may be infected by HPV and have genital warts?

You should remember that while this type of HPV does not cause cancer, you do need to seek professional guidance from your medical practitioner. Either they can arrange for a practice nurse to examine you or refer you to a sexual health clinic.

Even if you or your partner can feel or see the warts, you need a doctor or nurse to carry out a thorough examination, when they will use a magnifying lens and possibly an internal examination of the vagina or anus to make a proper diagnosis.

So how does HPV cause genital warts to develop?

What seems to happen is that the virus has an impact on normal, healthy cells through a mechanism that makes their growth abnormal. This may show up as genital warts or just remain unseen.

Over time your immune system may win the battle and defeat the virus. In some people where their immune system is weaker, they may not be able to remove the HPV and the genital warts may remain.

How can you prevent infection by HPV?

A growing number of government agencies have introduced vaccination programs which protect teenage girls from around 12 years of age.

There is further catch-up coverage for the 13-18 age group who may have missed the initial phases or did not get complete cover.

In addition to vaccination your next best option is to either avoid sexual activity altogether or limit yourself to sexual contact with one person in a long term committed relationship. And equally the key to reducing your risk profile for HPV-caused genital warts is to limit the number of sexual partners.

As well as vaccination, using condoms is an effective means towards reducing the risk of HPV infection and genital warts.

How to treat genital warts?

If the warts can be seen on examination you will likely be offered treatment to remove them. Successful treatment will depend on the strength of your immune system, and the size and type of wart.

Remember genital warts are not caused by bacteria but by a virus - the HPV - and so antibiotics will have no effect.

Your options include using a special cream applied to the infected area, a laser or heat treatment on the infected area, under local anaesthetic or freezing (cryotherapy).

Sometimes a combination of the above approaches may be used and you may feel some soreness for a few days after the treatment, but some pain killing drugs should help deal with this discomfort.

The best approach in these matters, however, is to see prevention of HPV and genital warts in the first place as a far better option than the need for a cure.

Mervyn Phillips - About the Author:

Mervyn Phillips is the editor and owner of Health Content Helper, a quality health articles writing service for internet marketing entrepreneurs in this sector. You can read more about writing for articles in health and wellness here. http://www.health-content-helper.com/how-it-works.html

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/tackling-the-hpv-and-genital-warts-challenge-789350.html

The Hpv Vaccine - are You Confused?

In recent weeks, attitudes about the HPV vaccine have often shifted from fanfare to fear as newspapers, blogs and medical journals have inundated the media with conflicting opinions. While the public wants information about the vaccine in simple and clear terms, the potential benefits and limitations of this vaccine have been somewhat difficult to see in black and white. Some of the questions that have dominated the media about the vaccine are:

Is the vaccine safe? -- The recent concerns over Gardasil's safety have many parents worried. No doubt, adverse effects have to be carefully monitored to assure that the vaccine has a good safety profile. Being a parent myself, I can fully understand these concerns, but as a physician, I have had the opportunity to take a closer look at Gardasil's safety profile. So far, nearly 8 million doses of Gardasil have been administered and all adverse effects have been carefully analyzed by medical experts at VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System), a branch of the CDC. So far, no common pattern of reports has emerged to show that the vaccine is directly responsible for any of the adverse effects reported. Therefore, both the FDA and CDC continue to find that Gardasil is a safe and effective vaccine with benefits far outweighing the risks.

Will the vaccine cause "Replacement disease?" -- The August 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine voiced several concerns over the HPV vaccine. One of the concerns was that the protection Gardasil provides against the two major HPV strains would give the currently less dangerous HPV types an opportunity to grow stronger and cause disease more often. This phenomenon is called replacement disease. Replacement disease was seen, for example, when the vaccine Prevnar was introduced in 2000 to fight against respiratory disease caused by the pneumococcal bacteria in children. And, even though there were a few cases of the disease caused by types of pneumococci that were not covered by the vaccine, they were insignificant when compared to the millions of lives that were saved by the vaccine. With the HPV vaccine, there are currently a few reports alluding to the emergence of non-vaccine covered HPV types, but these have not been of any clinical significance.

When is the best time to vaccinate? -- revisited -- Public health treats populations, not individuals. Therefore, when making recommendations for a whole generation of American women, public policy makers have to take several factors into account in order to calculate the most cost effective way to obtain maximum benefits from a drug or vaccine. The HPV vaccine is preventive in nature, meaning that it can't cure existing HPV infections. Therefore, from a public health standpoint, it is best to administer the vaccine to 11-12 year old girls before their sexual debut, rather than later (catch-up vaccination is currently recommended between the ages of 13-26 years) when they may have already been exposed to the virus. This is also the time when middle school children go to their doctors or clinics to receive other recommended shots, making it an easier time to offer the HPV vaccine. Vaccinating girls at this age will give the best protection because it will reduce HPV related disease consequences later in life, including the unexpected potential for exposure due to events such as infidelity within a long term relationship or having new sexual partners after widowhood or divorce.

Will the vaccine affect natural immunity? -- Natural immunity to a particular disease is acquired when a person is exposed to the specific organism that causes the disease. Obviously, this involves considerable risk -- for example, in order to gain natural immunity from polio, one would become paralyzed in the process. Immunity acquired from the vaccine causes a person to produce antibodies without developing the actual disease in most cases. In the case of HPV, it is not clear if natural infections offer adequate protection for life, but studies have shown that the vaccine produces antibody levels which are nearly tenfold higher than antibody titers produced by natural infections. Whether this heightened immunity leads to stronger and longer effectiveness is not yet known.

Is it true that there's no proof that the vaccine will reduce the rate of cervical cancer? -- Very few HPV infections lead to cervical cancer, as over 90% of infections clear up on their own. Of those that persist, the lag time between acquiring an HPV infection and the development of cervical cancer is nearly 20 years. Therefore, the young women who are being vaccinated today have to approach the ages of 35-50, when cervical cancer peaks, before we will have conclusive results. However, there is enough scientific evidence to support the theory that the vaccine can prevent cervical cancer. Clinical trials look at cancer surrogates -- conditions which when left alone will invariably progress to invasive cervical cancer -- as end points of the study. In the case of the HPV vaccine, they look for significantly abnormal cells or precancerous lesions in women who have been vaccinated. The vaccine has been found to prevent the development of these abnormal cells by the HPV types that are covered by it. Thus, it has been predicted that the vaccines will prevent cervical cancer. Obviously, no one can predict with complete accuracy how the vaccine will work in the "real world" over the next several decades. It is a leap of faith to some extent, but a leap that most of us are willing to take because of our trust in the "miracles" of medicine that have served us so well over the years.

©2008 Dr. Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D.

Author Bio
Dr. Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D., is a Staff Physician at Columbia University's Barnard College Health Services. A board certified gynecologist and family practice physician, she has also worked as a surveillance physician for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to joining Barnard, she was in private practice for 10 years. In addition, Dr. Krishnan has worked as a physician at the Institute on Aging and as Chief Resident in the Family Practice Department at St.Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. Her new book: The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics -- A Guide to parents, women, men and teenagers is scheduled to be published on August 30, 2008 by Greenwood Publications. The book presents the most up to date information about the vaccine without the influence of pharmaceutical companies or other interest groups.

Shobha S. Krishnan, M.d. - About the Author:

Visit http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C35011.aspx for more information.

The book can also be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble .com and Borders.com.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/the-hpv-vaccine-are-you-confused-579883.html