The Hpv Vaccine: Why it Won't Promote Sexual Promiscuity

Ever since the FDA approved the HPV vaccine two years ago, its introduction into the health community has been embroiled in a medical, social, cultural and political controversy. At first glance, the debut of a vaccine to fight most cervical cancers looks like an exciting advance in the history of women’s health. However, many people are unable to separate the ethics from the basic scientific facts: the virus is transmitted through sexual contact and hence the vaccine is recommended for 11 or 12-year-old girls, before they first become sexually active. The perceived possibility that administering such a vaccine to prevent a sexually transmitted disease could promote sexual promiscuity has trumped all other ethical debates, leading some people to cast its benefits aside. As a mother, I can understand why many parents are concerned about this issue and put off vaccinating their daughters. However, in addition to being a mother, I am a physician, and I therefore believe that by putting off vaccination, we effectively strip our daughters from their chances of protecting themselves from the two major cancer causing HPV types.

According to a Newsweek article from February 25, 2008, only two out of every 10 women in the U.S. in the approved age group have received the vaccine so far.  In another new survey of almost 10,000 parents, only 49 percent said they would get their daughters vaccinated with the HPV vaccine at the recommended age of 9 to 12 years. Even though 68 percent planned to vaccinate their daughters at 13 to 15 years of age, and 86 percent said they would vaccinate at 16 to 18 years of age, they might be too late -- because the vaccine can only prevent and not cure HPV. The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), an agency that collects data on the sexual behavior of American teenagers, reports that teenage girls are already sexually active: 13 percent of them by the time they are 15, 43 percent of them by age 17, and 70 percent of them by age 19. Of the sexually active 13-21 year age group, 70 percent show evidence of HPV infections within a few to several months of when they start having sex -- most of which could easily be prevented by vaccinating preadolescent girls. In addition, many parents are uncomfortable talking to their preadolescents about sexual issues; meaning uneducated teens could make problematic sexual choices not only without realizing the consequences of their actions, but also without the protection from HPV that the vaccine provides.

Again, bear in mind that the vaccine is preventive -- it is only effective if administered prior to exposure to the virus. Therefore, the vaccine will not treat the existing infections. This is why it's so crucial to administer the vaccine when girls are young, before any chance of sexual activity, including sexual contact without intercourse. In addition, there are several other scientific reasons why the vaccine is recommended in the 11-12 year old groups. Unfortunately, it is beyond the scope of this article to discuss those facts.

But, won't vaccinating young girls against a STD cause them to become less sexually inhibited and more promiscuous by giving them a license not to worry about the consequences of sex? Won't it eliminate a deterrent to teenage sex and therefore encourage it? Highly unlikely: because teens rarely factor the possibility of getting HPV into their decisions to have sex.

Current research in adolescent sexual behavior shows that not one, but a variety of factors influence teenage sexual behavior, such as their socio-economic status, their moral and religious values, their sexual attitudes, and the influence of family, friends, and the society they live in. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that a vaccine against a single kind of STD would play a more significant role in adolescent decision making than these factors paired with their responsibility, good judgment, and the boundaries of accepted sexual behavior.

According to NSFG, the top two factors influencing teenagers who choose to remain virgins are fear of pregnancy (94 percent) and contracting HIV/AIDS (92 percent). Since knowledge and awareness of HPV in this age group is poor to begin with, teens will not view this vaccine as a reason to become sexually active at an age sooner than intended. And parents who worry about the vaccine causing promiscuity should remind themselves of the two most dangerous and important factors that influence teenagers to become sexually active and engage in high-risk behaviors: peer pressure and the use of alcohol and/or drugs.

Parents who worry about their teens becoming promiscuous can also focus on a crucial method to keep them from becoming sexually active too soon: raising their awareness. Research has shown that parental guidance is one of the most important factors in delaying teenage sexual activity -- teenagers who do not have involved parents are most likely to engage in high-risk behaviors. The HPV vaccine can actually help parents guide their teens' sexual decisions by giving them a window of opportunity to talk about the topic, and to get health care providers involved in the discussion. There is no reason why parents cannot, without any hypocrisy, inform their daughters that the vaccine is not a green light for them to immediately have sex. Rather, it is a strong message that you, their parents, care about their health, and that it’s important to take proactive steps to become a healthy adult. Think of it this way: Getting a car with an airbag, traction control and anti-lock brakes means that the car is safer in the long-run, but these features aren't a reason to drive recklessly -- accidents are still possible. No matter what, the vaccine will not, cannot and should not take the place of good, solid parental guidance.

The bottom line is we as we as parents want to do what is best for our children. We all want to teach them well while they are still in our protective cocoon so that we can trust them with their own judgment when they become independent. If they always followed our best wishes, we wouldn’t need to worry about administering the vaccine at all. However, even teens with the best judgment can face peer pressure and fall victim to bad decisions or other reasons that may cause them to engage in risky sexual behavior, and this makes the case for vaccinating all the more compelling.

©2008 Dr. Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D.

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

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

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/the-hpv-vaccine-why-it-wont-promote-sexual-promiscuity-531082.html

Maker of HPV Vaccination, Merck, Submitting Stats to Feds on New HPV Vaccine for Women ages 27-45

We are always browsing the web looking for information about HPV and cures for HPV so that you can be the best informed. Often we find little tidbits here and there that offer a some touch of insight as to what is going on with the fight against this disease that causes cervical cancer in women and that can cause genital warts and anal warts in both sexes.

One thing that we have noticed is that there are currently only HPV Vaccines for women, and they are touch and go, and mostly they are designed to prevent cervical cancer, not genital warts or anal warts. The makers of the most popular, well up until now the most popular, prescribed HPV Vaccination, Merck – who makes Gardisol – has been ordered by the US government to submit stats on the numbers and how effective their new drug (which is supposed to offer hope to older women between ages of 27-45) truly is.

In an early January report that was published the very popular web news medium. Reuters, the article cites as follows.

“Gardasil, one of Merck's biggest products, was approved in 2006 for preventing cervical cancer and genital warts in females between the ages of 9 and 26. It works by preventing infection with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration early last year again withheld approval for its use by women aged 27 to 45, asking the drug maker to submit data when a 48-month study on a test group has been completed.

Merck, in a statement on its Web site, said it had provided the completed trial data to the FDA before the end of 2009. The company said the FDA typically takes six months to review such responses.

Global sales of Gardasil fell 22 percent to $311 million in the third quarter, hurt by overseas competition from GlaxoSmithKline's rival Cervarix vaccine and continuing delays in winning expanded approval for the product.”

(Source: Internet, 2010; http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60C6B420100113.)

So while there is some new hope on the horizon, at least for women who are older, as the current HPV vaccines only treat young girls, from age 12-25, what about men, and what about those who are currently infected with HPV?

What about TREATMENT FOR HPV SUFFERERS?

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Why Is An HPV Vaccine An Important Consideration?

In 2006, a HPV vaccine was developed for the treatment of the Human Papilloma Virus. The development has been extremely important in being able to keep young women and girls safe from this disease. The HPV virus affects a large amount of individuals in the United Sates; about 50 percent.

And as for women, which the vaccine was developed for, it is estimated that around 80 percent of females will have been exposed to the HPV Virus by the age of 50. The more we understand about this disease and how to prevent it, the more that can be done to lower the amount of people who get it.

The vaccine for HPV is called Gardasil, and is marketed by Merck. It has been found to be nearly one hundred percent effective in preventing the four strains of HPV that, when put together, account for seventy percent of the cases of cervical cancer and ninety percent of the cases of genital warts. It is administered in three doses over a six-month period.

The vaccine is most effective if it is given before females become sexually active. It is currently recommended that girls be vaccinated at about the ages of eleven or twelve. The vaccine can be safely administered to girls as young as nine, and women as old as twenty-six years of age. Investigations are currently being done to find out if the vaccine is safe and effective to administer to boys and young men.

The HPV vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women. A study has found that pregnant women who received the vaccine were no more likely to have adverse outcomes than those who received a placebo. However, it is still recommended that a woman who is pregnant complete her pregnancy before receiving the vaccine. If a woman learns she is pregnant after starting the course of the vaccination, then she should wait until after she has had her baby to receive the second and third injections.

There are many different strains of the Human Papilloma Virus and the HPV vaccine does not protect individuals against all of them. However, it can help reduce the risk that a female has of contracting the disease. It is important to not that if you are sexually active, the use of a condom will not completely protect you against the virus.

This is because the HPV virus is spread by contact with the skin. Condoms do not cover all of the areas that could be infected. Before a young girl or woman becomes sexually active, they should consider taking the vaccine.

MIKE SELVON - About the Author:

Mike Selvon has some great genital warts articles. Find out more tips on the hpv vaccine at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our genital warts help blog.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-is-an-hpv-vaccine-an-important-consideration-542051.html

Don’t Be Ashamed if You Have HPV – You Are NOT Alone: The Numbers are Astounding!

If you have just recently been diagnosed with HPV you should not be ashamed, because the numbers of those who currently suffer from this virus are rather shocking. The best way for us to show you how many people have or will have, or have had HPV in the US alone, is by letting you in the truth by allowing the experts do the explaining.

The American Social Health Association (http://www.ashastd.org/) says,

"It has been estimated that 75 percent or more of sexually active Americans will contract HPV sometime in their lives. This means that anyone who has ever had sexual relations has a high chance of being exposed to this virus, but only a small number of women infected with HPV develop cell changes that need to be treated. In almost all cases, the immune system will keep the virus (including the cancer-related HPV types) under control or get rid of it completely."

There is some good news with regards to all natural HPV treatment options. There are some daily supplements that you can take which will boost your immune system, introduce natural antivirals and antioxidants so you can fight off this virus into cessation FAST!

If you do find out that you are infected with HPV, consider some all natural solutions for treating HPV.

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Why Genital Hpv is Considered to be a Sexually Transmitted Disease

The human papilloma virus at its best is contagious and this hasn’t changed for the genital HPV strains. It is a highly contagious infection which can be passed from person to person very easily, especially if it manifests itself as genital warts.

That’s why genital HPV is considered to be a sexually transmitted disease. And since genital warts spread through skin contact with an infected area, the use of condoms may not be sufficient barrier against the spread of the infection as a condom won’t necessarily cover the entire infected area.

This is the reason why genital HPV can spread through oral, anal and vaginal sex. If your partner is infected by HPV and your skin comes into contact with the affected areas, you can become infected yourself. This is also the reason why a very few people will get HPV in the throat after having oral sex with an infected partner. This is known as laryngeal papilloma.

The same is true for newborn babies. If the mother is infected with genital HPV especially in the birth canal, there is a possibility for the newly born baby to come into contact with the infection. In some cases newborns will go on to develop laryngeal papilloma.

It should also be noted I think, that there are two differing schools of thought on whether genital HPV is contagious if it shows no physical signs in the form of genital warts. While some people believe that genital HPV isn’t contagious when there is no physical manifestation of it, others find that the evidence is inconclusive to make a decision

Personally speaking though, I find that it always pays to be careful and if you suspect that either you or your partner have genital warts, then all steps should be taken to contain the genital HPV infection, and you should ideally, both of you seek medical attention.

 

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 Genital HPV, Visit His Site at Genital HPV

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-genital-hpv-is-considered-to-be-a-sexually-transmitted-disease-303264.html

Genital Hpv & Genital Warts – an Overview

To put it plainly and simply, genital HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. And although it’s not transmitted by the exchange of bodily fluids during sexual intercourse, it is transmitted through skin to skin contact. And when the warts are in or on your genital area, there’s only a very few other ways that it can be transmitted. Hence the reason for it being classified as a sexually transmitted disease.

There’s also the little fact that the more contact you have with different sexual partners, the more likely it is that you will get genital HPV. In fact, studies conducted over the years have shown that approximately 18-20% of the population suffers from genital HPV and that number is growing yearly. Of this twenty percent of people though, only about 4% receive treatment.

This is because, that for the most part, people aren’t even aware that they have genital HPV since they might have no visible signs or symptoms of it. It could also be because some people might feel embarrassed to admit they have genital HPV and won’t seek any medical attention. Then there’s the case where people will treat themselves using natural home remedies and herbal cures.

If you have genital HPV and are looking to cure yourself, the one thing that I can tell you before you go any further is if you’re thinking about using any of the readily available over-the-counter treatments, then don’t. These are good for the other types of warts caused by the HPV infection, but for genital HPV it’s a strong and resolute no-no.

The skin around your genital area is very sensitive and these methods of curing genital HPV can be harsh. They can sting and burn, and they can irritate you unbearably. The one thing they won’t do however is to cure and rid you of your warts. Other remedies, should also be used with care, and if in doubt as to whether it will be what you need you should consult with your physician beforehand.

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 Genital HPV, Visit His Site at Genital HPV

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/genital-hpv-genital-warts-an-overview-303262.html

Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared to Admit You Have HPV (Genital human papillomavirus)!

According to last year’s CDC (Center for Disease Control) estimates, more than 20 million people in the US alone were currently infected with the HPV virus (Genital human papillomavirus), and that these numbers were growing steadily at an alarming rate of 6 million HPV infected persons, per year! That means now that we are entering 2010, there could be anywhere between 20-30 million people in the US that KNOW that they have HPV. The CDC also said that about 90% of people that have HPV don’t even know that they have the HPV virus because, according to the CDC, 90% of people with the virus don’t show symptoms. So what the real numbers are could be astounding!

In so many words, Genital human papillomavirus is OUT OF CONTROL IN THE US!

What About People that Show Signs and Symptoms of the HPV Virus?
Then there are the millions of people that are showing sings of this virus either through diagnosed abnormal pap smears, genital warts or anal warts. And with few medical HPV treatment options, such as freezing, burning or surgically removing the warts off, or using creams like Aldara that just boost the immune system, the options are scarce, to say the least! The CDC also said that in many cases the body will naturally put the HPV virus back into dormancy within 2 years, once the immune system is able to effectively combat the virus – that’s a long time to wait!

If you have noticeable signs and symptoms of HPV, don’t wait another day. There are ways that you can boost your body’s immune system by attacking the virus internally using an all-natural treatment for HPV that combines high-potency antivirals (the most powerful formulations known to man), three amazingly potent antioxidants, which kill most pathogens and boost your immune system, and that incorporates anti-stress and anti-anxiety natural supplements, which prevent the most common reason why people show signs and symptoms of HPV: STRESS-RELATED OUTBREAKS!

Learn more about naturally boosting your immune system to be free of HPV today at: www.HPVNaturalCure.com