OK, so you’ve seen the commercials on TV.  One less… something something something.  I’m still surprised by how many people have not heard of Gardasil when asked.  So I thought I’d just do a quick post on this topic.  Sorry not posting as much lately.  Work has been busy!

The basics:  HPV or the human papilloma virus is what causes cervical cancer.  The pap smear is the screening test we use to detect any potential cervical cancer.  And Gardasil is the vaccine that is now available for protecting against 4 subtypes of the HPV virus.  It is for females age 9-26 years old at this time.  Maybe in the near future, we will see it approved for older women and men too.

So, if you are in this age group and you have your annual check up with your doctor, ask about the vaccine and whether is it appropriate for you.

  1. If you are parent, you should ask about the vaccine for your teenage daughters.  Talk to your doctor about your concerns, the risks and benefits.  I recommend having an open discussion with your daughter and the doctor in the room.
  2. Talk to the doctor about when the vaccine should be given.
  3. There are 3 shots in the series that are given in a 6 months period.  Ask the doctor about when you need to follow.
  4. If you’ve had one dose but failed to get the subsequent 2 doses within the 6 month timeline, you can still complete the series.  Talk to your doctor about this.
  5. Don’t forget to ask about side effects.  So far, this vaccine seems to be pretty well tolerated.  I’ve not seen any major adverse effects.  A few patients have gotten a little lightheaded but this resolved within a few minutes.
  6. Don’t forget that the vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV.  Nor does it protect against other sexually transmitted infections.
  7. You also should continue to get your regular pap smears as directed by your doctor.

That’s it for now.  Sorry but next post won’t be for a few days because I’m working this weekend.

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