Doctors in Myanmar sound off over HPV vaccine

Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer in Myanmar women but medical experts are divided over whether to recommend vaccination for human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted infection that is thought to be the major cause of the disease, according to a recent article in The Myanmar Times.

The two vaccines on the market prevent at least two types of HPV that are responsible for about 70% of all cervical cancer, according to their manufacturers. However, some experts are concerned that women who get the vaccination mistakenly think they are protected from all forms of the virus, which is the most common sexually transmitted disease.

Rick Perry caught in the hot seat over HPV vaccine order

According to The New American, controversy over an executive order issued by Rick Perry in 2007 is following the Texas Governor on the presidential campaign trail. In New Hampshire on Saturday and in Iowa on Monday, Perry faced questions about his order to have girls entering the sixth grade in Texas vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted disease and the cause of about 70% of all cervical cancer, according to the CDC.

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Gardasil not covered by some insurances, but only for males

According to a recent article found at Boston.com, the author focuses on a new debate over whether or not insurance companies should be paying for boys to be vaccinated against HPV, even though the CDC doesn’t technically recommend it. This new debate has drawn some heat from the Gay Community, and has one lawyer seeking changes within insurance companies.

When Gardasil, the vaccine that protects against the virus that causes cervical cancer, was approved for boys and young men in 2009, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declined to recommend it after considering its cost, efficacy, and safety. Some insurance companies took that as a reason to avoid coverage for males.

Annual report card: cervical cancer screenings drop, some blame HPV vaccine

HPV vaccine could be to blame for misinformation and failure to get annual pap smears, says report.

The National Partnership for Women and Families has released the annual report card that confirms what many have feared when it comes to Women’s Health issues in the United States. Each year, a combination of Women’s Health organizations releases a report card  grading individual states on how well they achieve the goals set by the Department of Health and Human Services, including the healthy people 2010 initiative.  This may not seem like a very important issue, but the results of these reports, shows us what state are lacking in healthcare–and overall the rates were disappointing with 37 states receiving “unsatisfactory” ratings. Read More…

Virginia repeals mandatory HPV vaccine bill

The Gardasil vaccine and its use among young women has been a highly debated issue since its release to the U.S. in 2006.  There have been multiple suggestions for its mandatory use in a variety of populations–the majority of them have not even reached adolescents yet.  One proposal suggested that the vaccine be given to both boys and girls in the juvenile justice system.  Others have tried to make the vaccine mandatory for girls entering the sixth grade.  Many of these big ideas have been shut down and thankfully so.  Individual states have begun to look at making the vaccine a mandatory part of routine vaccinations, and Virginia Republican Kathy Byron has attempted this very act. Read More…

Mom’s advice sways older daughters decision about HPV vaccination

Many young women rely on a key person to help them make critical decisions in life–no matter how old you get, many turn to their mothers for advice and help.  This is especially true as many head out on their own–taking their first steps of true independence when they leave the nest for college.  Often intimidated by the many new decisions left in their hands, they call home and ask mom for advice.  A new research study is now suggesting that moms play a significant role in the medical decisions that their newly independent daughters may make, and in particular, the decision to be vaccinated with the HPV vaccine hinges significantly on what Dr. Mom prescribes.  Read More…

Fewer physicians offer HPV vaccine to 11 and 12 year olds

Until recently, there was not a lot of data regarding vaccine administration and perceptions of HPV vaccination among physicians.  The HPV vaccine–also known as Gardasil has been on the market since 2006, and before it came to the market, it was met with mostly positive remarks. However after its release little else was done to investigate its use until now.  The University of Colorado School of Medicine in conjunction with Kaiser Permanente began a look into how physicians were viewing the drug–and who they were recommending it for.  Current guidelines on Gardasil approve the vaccine for use in girls as young as 9 through age 26. There is even talk of perhaps increasing that age to as high as 45.  Read More…

HPV transmission reduced by male circumcision–among other things

In case you didn’t know, human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease.  There are over 100 strains of the virus–some that never cause any symptoms at all. Others, that are responsible for physical changes that many people are not proud of. There is no cure for HPV infection.  For some people, HPV may cause genital warts.  Warts may appear on the genitals of men and women, on the cervix, vagina, inner legs, and the anus.  Typically, the condition is painless, but can result in a dramatic increase in the chances of developing cervical cancer in women as well as anal cancers in men.  There have been many debates over the introduction of HPV vaccines, like Gardasil and Cervarix since they came to the market in 2006.  Some people have been misinformed, and believe that the vaccine is a green light to have all the unprotected sex they desire, completely without consequence.  Others, think that the vaccine may reverse damage already done by HPV.  When in fact neither of these misconceptions are true.  The reality of cervical cancer, and the vaccine is that without common sense, responsible sexual education and responsible practices, in conjunction with proper screenings, no vaccine will be of any use. Read More…

Men more accepting of HPV vaccine when considering cancer reduction

For several years, the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, and its European cousin Cervarix has been on the market with mixed reviews, to say the least.   Just as Indian health officials announced the cessation of trials surrounding the drug in their country due to the deaths of six young girls, other health care representatives are looking for ways to promote its use.  Gardasil, which is manufactured by Merck laboratories has been linked to a variety of autoimmune dysfunctions including Guillain Barre Syndrome, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, hair loss, coma, seizures and even death.  Some claim that government vaccination monitoring systems and the manufacturer are working over time to cover up complications, all while media hype plays up the benefits of a potentially deadly drug. Now a new study from UNC shows that men are more receptive to the benefits–by preventing cancer and care less about genital warts.    Read More…

Barely there–life after Gardasil related hair loss

No teenage girl wants to enter her adolescent years and have to be any more concerned about her appearance than normal.  Simply trying to deal with the normal stresses of everyday is enough trouble without trying to cover bald spots and find a way to look normal when all you feel is different.  We talk regularly about the obvious physical side effects of the Gardasil vaccine–Merck’s cervical cancer prevention vaccine that has been on the market since 2006–like Guillain Barre Syndrome, fainting and weakness.  But it isn’t often we talk about the side effects that effect the appearance and change body image and alter the self esteem of many young ladies and women alike.  Read More…