Just as HPV (human papillomavirus) is now known to be the primary cause of cervical cancer, Spanish medical researchers from the Catalan Institute of Oncology have recently said that this common sexually transmitted disease that typically manifests itself in the form of genital warts is likely to blame for as much as half of penile cancers.

Penile cancers are much more rare than HPV cervical cancers as they account for less than 1% of cancers in men in North America and Europe, but are as high as 10% of male cancers in parts of Asia and Africa.   There are as many as 26,000 case of penile cancer reported yearly.

The Spanish researchers reviewed clinical study reports from between 1986 and 2008 which indicated that nearly 50% of penile cancer tumors with associated with HPV.  Nearly all were directly linked to HPV strains 16 and 18, the same two types most often linked to cervical cancer.

Both of these strains are targeted by Merck’s Gardasil and Cervarix from GlaxoSmithKline via vaccinations currently widely used to immunize against HPV infection in young women.

The good new is that clinical trials were completed by Merck late last year which demonstrated the effectiveness of their Gardisil anti HPV vaccine at preventing the penile lesions in men that are caused by the virus.  Hence, the findings of the researchers suggest that the already widely used  anti HPV vaccines from women are very likely to be similarly effective in the fight against penile cancer in men

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 "I wanna be one less, o-n-e-l-e-s-s!" Is this song permanently lodged in your brain? Do the words "Tell Someone" have new meaning? You have pharmaceutical company Merck to thank. These slogans are from its commercials aiming to raise awareness about the link between HPV and cervical cancer and Merck’s HPV vaccine, Gardasil.

Before this connection was discovered, we didn’t know what caused cervical cancer and the only way to know you had it was through a pap smear HPV test. Kim, 43, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1993. Throughout her treatment, there was no mention of HPV and it wasn’t until years later (after beating the cancer) that she realized the cause. "I didn’t even know HPV caused cervical cancer until I saw those commercials; my doctor didn’t even tell me when I had it," Kim says. "I had never even heard of HPV until the commercials and I read an article about it and said, ‘Oh, I guess that’s what I had.’"

Many women don’t know much about HPV until it affects them, even though as many as 80 percent will acquire HPV, perhaps in the form of female genital warts, at some point in their lives.

In a 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey, only 40 percent of women respondents had heard of HPV and less than 20 percent knew it could lead to cervical cancer. Think back to 2005, before the commercials worked into your consciousness, how much did you know about HPV? Probably nothing, which is scary, considering about 10 women die from cervical cancer in America everyday, according to the American Cancer Society.

There are women who develop cervical cancer who have only had one partner and women who have had several partners. Discovering the link between a virus and cervical cancer is extraordinary, but it shouldn’t lead people to believe those who develop cervical cancer were reckless with their sexual health. Here are some facts about HPV and cervical cancer the 30 second TV commercials don’t include-but you should know:

1. What are the ways I can get HPV? HPV can be contracted through almost any sexual contact, sometimes even oral sex. Condoms decrease the risk by about 70 percent, but since any genital contact can spread HPV, the skin not covered by a condom puts you at risk. Most people with HPV show no symptoms. This means that practically anyone-from your husband to your one-night-stand-could pass along HPV.

2. What strains of HPV cause cervical cancer? There are about a hundred different types of HPV, but only a few cause cancer. Most cases will clear up on their own with no treatment. Gardasil protects against types 16 and 18, which cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, which are responsible for about 90 percent of genital warts cases.

3. How can I protect myself against HPV and cervical cancer? Condoms can help protect against HPV and the Gardasil vaccine will be a big help against it as long as you don’t already have the strains that cause cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society outlines other risk factors for catching HPV and developing cervical cancer as well. They include smoking (which weakens your immune system), having sex at an early age, many sexual partners, a partner who has had many partners, sex with uncircumcised males, HIV or Chlamydia, poor diet or family history of cervical cancer. Doctors say women will not develop cervical cancer without first contracting HPV, so the best line of defense is to not get HPV at all.

4. What’s the deal with the HPV vaccine? Gardasil was approved by the FDA for girls aged 9-26. They recommend getting vaccinated before you’re sexually active, since the longer you wait the more likely it is that you’ll already have HPV. The vaccine is given as three separa 1ff8 te shots over six months and costs $360, not including the cost of the doctor’s office visit. Most insurance companies cover the costs, but check before you are vaccinated. Merck also has a plan for qualified women to be vaccinated for free. So if you’re uninsured or your insurance doesn’t cover it, talk to your doctor about this program. Many Planned Parenthood centers also carry Gardasil and the price will depend on your insurance coverage.

5. I’m over 26, can I still get vaccinated? As of right now, Gardasil is only approved for women aged 9-26, so your insurance company most likely won’t cover it if you are older than 26. Further testing is being done for other age groups so in the future that might be expanded. Talk to your doctor if you are over 26 and still interested in being vaccinated to find out if he or she will vaccinate you.

6. I already have HPV, so Gardasil won’t help me, right? Actually, there are many strains of HPV, so, even if you know you already have it, talk to your doctor because you can still get protection from the other cancer-causing strains with Gardasil.

7. I’m only sleeping with one person. I don’t need to be vaccinated, do I? It’s not a bad idea. It’s entirely possible that your husband or boyfriend could pass HPV on to you from a previous relationship. Also, I know we hate to think of these possibilities, but Gardasil can be helpful if your partner cheats on you or if you are raped by someone with HPV.

8. What’s the downside to Gardasil? There are some negatives to this vaccine that you should consider. First, there may be side effects such as pain or swelling where you were injected, nausea, fever or dizziness. However, the side effects are pretty rare. Also, since the vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of cervical cancer, you still have to get regular pap tests (so no saying goodbye to your yearly gyno appointments). Gardasil also does not protect against any other STDs, so protection is still very necessary during sex and it will not clear up an existing infection of HPV or cervical cancer. The high cost of the vaccine can also be a problem so be sure to talk to your insurance company and doctor to find out how much it will cost before you’re injected.

In the end, it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of the HPV vaccine, but hopefully now you can do so with a little more information than a Tell Someone commercial provides.

Author: Sarah Carrillo

This article was originally published on http://www.savvymiss.com, a free website community dedicated to connecting, empowering and informing women everywhere. SavvyMiss.com features articles on dating, love, careers, fashion, health, beauty and important societal issues. Members also use message boards and blogs to build relationships with other members.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Carrillo

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HPV Vaccines for Cervical Cancer

The Human Pappillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to be the major cause of cervical cancer in women.   Fortunately, there is now a vaccine (Gardasil®) available that can guard against the infection for the most dangerous varieties of HPV.   It is strongly recommended that young women in particular between the ages of 14 and 28 get the vaccination.   It is important that you get the preventive medication before infection, as it will not cure the disease once you have it.

Medical statistics

Statistics show that about 1 in 5 of all U.S. sexually active persons are infected with HPV, genital herpes and other incurable viral STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).Total infections throughout the world are thought to be in excess of 500 million.  These statistics suggest that anyone who engages in unprotected or casual sex is surely at risk to be infected.Ignore this disturbing fact at your own risk.

What can you do avoid infection personally, or help your loved ones to avoid infection as well?  What can you do about it?

The Genital Herpes STD

Those who have experienced episodes of genital herpes attacks can certainly confirm the prolonged pain and discomfort that comes with an eruption.   Generally, the actual eruptions of the blister like sores are preceded by itching where the sores are about to erupt.Many times, a neuralgia like pain in or about the groin area is experienced a day or so in advance of the appearance of the sores, which may abate when eruption happens.

At eruption, this pain is replaced by very localized pain at the site of the sores, which can be substantial depending on the severity of attack.  Flu like symptoms often precede and accompany the attack.The herpes sores can persist for as much as seven to ten days without treatment. Many users find that the length and severity can be lessened by using available topical and sublingual remedies.  Prescription antiviral medications have been proven to reduce the frequency and severity.

It is unfortunate that no cure currently exists, and that once you have acquired the disease, periodic attacks can persist for the rest of your life.

The Human Pappillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is known to cause cervical cancer, as well as genital warts.HPV cause genital warts appear as cauliflower like small bumps in the gential area.   Itching and pain often accompany periodic attacks.

HPV is not yet curable, though there are now preventative vaccines for some variants of HPV, particulary ones known to be the primary causes of cervical cancer. Some topical medications are thought to speed getting rid of genital warts when they do erupt.

Transmissibility and Prevention

Herpes and HPV are normally transmitted by sexual relations, whether genital, oral, or even through touching.Transmission of these STDs can occur whether active symptoms are occurring or not. Certainly, unprotected sex during active infections have an extremely high likelyhood of causing new infections in your previously disease free partners.

Condoms usually provide a significant degree of protection, particularly when no apparent active symptoms are present.  However, absolute safety is by no means guaranteed, and particularly not when an active infection is present.Condoms can break, the virus can be passed on during foreplay, and the sores can be present in other places that are not protected by the condom barrier.

If you have become infected, your are unfortunately compelled to a lifetime very careful protected sex, especially with partners not already infected.If you have contracted the herpes virus, you should seriously consider getting a prescription from your physician for an anti viral medication. These have been availble now for a few years and seem to have good effect at reducing frequency and duration of infections.  Young women are strongly encouraged to take the preventive HPV vaccine before becoming sexually active.

Emotional and Social Impact

There can be subtantial emotional devastation associated with having and STD, in addition to the physical effects. You may question the morality or ethics of dating and engaging in sexual activities with others who are not infected.They may be understandly very reluctant to engage in a sexual relationship with you.There is still substantial stigma attached to STD infections despite the substantial prevalence of such diseases in our society.  Social networking and STD dating organizations like Positive Singles can be a godsend for those suffering with incurable STDs.

What Should You Do About It

Importantly, you need to schedule a consultation with your doctor to determine suitability of any treatments our counseling from which you could benefit.  Get prescriptions for the available anti virals.Try to control your symptoms and speed healing by using available over the counter topical remedies.  RemediesForHerpes.Net provides candid reviews of available medications.

Importantly, if the guilt of your infection is subtantially limiting your social opportunities, you can find sympathetic and understanding dating partners or friends by joining an STD dating community. These communities also can be a source for the most up to date info about STDs and how other people deal with STD infections.   Go to STDAmour.Org to register for free for the #1 STD dating community.

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