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Gardasil

Gardasil is an important vaccine for the treatment of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for both boys and girls. The Human Papillomavirus is a type of virus that causes warts, cancer, and other issues.

Gardasil prevents some of the types of HPV virus types such as 16, 18, 6, and 11.

Types 6 and 11 often cause Genital warts.

Types 16 and 18 can cause HPV-induced Cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer.

Gardisil may help prevent 70% of Cervical cancer.

How is Administered?

Gardasil is given in three 0.5 milliliter injections over six months.

The second injection is two months after the first, and the third injection is four months after the second shot was administered

The vaccine is preventive, not therapeutic. This means that the goal is treatment prior to sexual encounters, exposure to virus, and genital warts themselves.

Important Information

1.)  Once you’ve been exposed to HPV, Gardasil is not a treatment option.

2.)  The vaccine has been approved for young women.

3.)  This Vaccine is recommended for women 11 to 26.

4.)  Pap smears should still be done – because the vaccine does not prevent all cervical cancers.

5.)  It was approved in the US on June 8, 2006 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

6.)  Merck was denied FDA approval to market Gardasil to women aged 27 to 45. This appears to be the lack of overall help with Cervical cancers in this age group because of previously exposed to HPV.

Vaccine for Males

–  In December 2008, Merck requested the FDA to review and give permission to use the Vaccine for males between the age of 9 and 26.

–  The request was for patients in the United States.

–  The FDA approved this in October of 2009.

–  In the United Kingdom (UK), the vaccine is licensed for males (age 9 – 15) and females (age 9 – 26)

–  Gardasil is currently being used with gay men, who are at increased risk of Genital warts, penile, and anal cancer.

–  In 2005, a study found that many HIV-infected gay men also had anal HPV infection.

–  50% of those in the study had precancerous lesions.

–  Type 16 of HPV is associated with a form of throat cancer [Oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma]