Human Papillomavirus Facts
HPV and issues surrounding the Gardasil vaccine and mandatory vaccination have been front and center issues here in geishaland; here, here, here, and here. I have friends both online and off who are fighting cervical cancer, and I feel compelled to share as much information as possible on this subject because I don’t want any more of my friends (or any woman anywhere) to have to go thru what these women have.
These are the facts on HPV from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. This fact sheet was originally published in the Houston Chronicle. Texas became the first US state to enact mandatory vaccinations for sixth grade aged girls when Republican Governor Rick Perry signed an executive order. Despite whatever pros or cons associated with mandatory vaccinations that may exist, the facts about HPV are not in dispute.
General prevalence of HPV
• Incidence of HPV in U.S. women: 26.8 percent
• Incidence of HPV in U.S. men: As high as 50 percent (estimated)
• HPV infections that clear up within two years: About 90 percent
Cancer and HPV
• Number of U.S. women who develop cervical cancer each year: 9,600
• Number of U.S. women who will die from the disease: 4,000
• Types of HPV: More than 100, but only a few lead to cervical, anal and other genital cancers.
• Discovery: High-risk types of HPV are detected in 99 percent of cervical cancer cases.
• Most common: HPV types 16 and 18 are found in about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.
• Vanishing: Most high-risk viruses will go away rather than cause cancer.
The federally approved vaccine
• Protection: The Gardasil vaccine guards against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
• Prevention: This prevents about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and about 90 percent of genital warts cases.
• No side effects: The vaccine has been tested in 11,000 women, and no serious side effects have been found.
• Expense: The retail cost of the vaccine starts around $120 per dose, three of which are required for a full series.
• Who should have it: The vaccine is recommended for 11- to 12-year-old girls and can be given to girls as young as 9.
• Further tests: It is unknown whether the vaccine is effective in boys or men. This is being studied.
• Other direct benefits: It is possible that vaccinating males will prevent genital warts and rare cancers, such as penile and anal cancer.
• Indirect benefits: It also is possible that vaccinating males will have indirect health benefits for females by reducing the spread of HPV.
From a sexuality standpoint; if you’re sexually active, always use condoms. They save lives and can prevent HPV infection as well as other STD infections or unwanted pregnancy. It’s also important for every woman to have the conversation with her own ob/gyn about getting tested and/or vaccinated.
From a social issue point of view; mandatory vaccinations can erradicate cervical cancer as we now know it in a single generation if we act now. It is morally and socially irresponsible to withhold a potentially life saving vaccine from our daughters because of some ass backwards religious objection. Vaccinating our daughters will not encourage them to become a bunch of promiscuous sluts.
Oral Sex Can Add to HPV Cancer Risk By COCO MASTERS