HPV, Cervical Cancer Vaccine: 15 Facts

Gardasil, the new vaccine designed to help prevent cervical cancer and HPV infection -- which causes both cervical cancer and genital warts -- is now available nationwide.

Later this fall, formal recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics are expected. Here is what you need to know now about this new vaccine.

1. What is Gardasil?
Gardasil is a vaccine, licensed for use in June, 2006, by the FDA. It targets four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) -- HPV-6, 11, 16, and 18. HPV-16 and 18 account for about 70% of all cervical cancers; HPV-6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital wartswarts. Cervical cancer attacks the cervix, which connects the vagina to the uterus. The new vaccine is also OK'd to help prevent vaginal and vulvar pre-cancers, and genital warts, which are also associated with HPV.

2. How does HPV spread?
Sexual activity spreads the virus, which is very common. It's one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the country, according to the CDC, with more than 20 million people currently infected and another 6.2 million contracting the virus each year. About half of those with HPV are aged 15 to 24.

3. Who should get the vaccine?
Gardasil is approved by the FDA for girls and women ages 9 to 26. Formal recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics are in the process of being finalized. In June, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that the vaccine be given routinely to girls 11 or 12 years old. The recommendation also allows for vaccination of girls beginning at age 9, as well as the vaccination of girls and women aged 13 to 26. That recommendation is being reviewed by the CDC; a final decision is expected by November. The American Academy of Pediatrics is also discussing issuing recommendations and hopes to do so by the end of November.

The vaccine is also being studied in women up to age 45, although that group may be targeted for the vaccine later. The vaccine is being studied in males, too. They can become infected with HPV, getting genital warts or passing the virus on to partners. HPV in men is associated with rare cases of penile or anal cancers.

4. What is the best way to talk to my daughter about this?
Emphasize that the primary goal is to help prevent cervical cancer. If you, as a parent, are worried this will give your child a false sense of security that she can't catch a sexually transmitted infection from sexual activity, you can also emphasize that the vaccine only protects against certain strains of HPV -- not against any of the many other types of sexually transmitted infections.