HPV Vaccine
HPV Vaccine – The Controversy Continues To Rage
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is directly responsible for up to 80% of cervical cancers detected in Australian women.
The vast majority of HPV strains go undetected and unnoticed and are quickly destroyed by our immune systems.
Although almost 250 strains of HPV have been detected, only 4 of them have been found to lead to cervical cancer. Of these, #16 and #18 are the most dangerous.
Cervical cancer is treatable in its early stages, but the problem is that it often goes undetected until the cancer is well advanced and inoperable. The HPV strains that cause cervical cancer can sit dormant for long periods of time while they slowly alter the structure of cervical cells.
Therefore, it is critical for all women between the ages of 18 and 60 who are sexually active to have regular Pap tests. A Pap smear can detect the presence of abnormal cells so that further investigations can be conducted.
What is the HPV Vaccine?
HPV Vaccine
Statistics show that most sexually active people will contract some form of sexually transmitted HPV in their lifetime. At any given point in time, 1% of the sexually active population is said to be infected with genital warts. There are several types of HPV which can affect the genitals, and only a few of them can lead to cancer, but each year, cervical cancer kills more than 200,000 women worldwide, with about three fourths of these cases stemming from venereal HPV which developed into cancer.
It is not opinion but objective truth that the HPV vaccine is an excellent discovery. There has been some unfortunate controversy over the vaccine, but there should not be. Everybody should know about the HPV vaccine.
Why a vaccine?
We’ve always had condoms, but condoms, unfortunately, aren’t 100% safe. Even a properly manufactured and applied condom does not cover the surface surrounding the genitals, which can also carry the HPV viruses. The HPV vaccine has been shown to have a nearly 100% success rate.