The HPV Vaccine

     Every sexually active individual is at risk of contracting HPV.  In most cases the person’s immune system will take charge and fend of the virus itself, but for 30% of the population this will not be the case (Saslow et al., 2002).  To your minimize the risk of being one of the 30%, you can choose to be vaccinated against the HPV virus.  There are currently 2 FDA approved vaccines available in the United States, Gardasil and Ceravix, both of which are effective for approximately 10 years and have proven to decrease infection rates by 56% (CDC, 2014).  Ceravix is designated to be given to only females, whereas Gardasil can be administered to both males and females.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that males and females between the ages of 11-26 get vaccinated (CDC, 2014).   

References:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  (2013).  HPV vaccine- Questions & Answers.  Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/vac-faqs.htm

Saslow, D., Solomon, D. Lawson, H. W., Killackey, M., Kulasingam, S. L., Cain, J., Garcia, F. A… Myers, E. R. (2012).  American Cancer Society, American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, and American Society for Clinical Pathology guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer.  CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 62, 147-172.  doi: 10.1309/AJCPTGD94EVRSJCG.