The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the new scary sexually transmitted disease on the block. Officially it’s “a very common virus transmitted through sexual activity. HPV has been found to cause cervical cancer, some other rare cancers and genital warts. (About 70 per cent of adults will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.)” - That last statistic is pretty scary! So scary that the Ontario government is now implementing a program that provides grade eight girls with a vaccine to help protect girls from cervical cancer. The vaccine is not a treatment or cure for cervical cancer or genital warts, but it does prevent infection by these specific types of HPV if it is administered to girls and women before their first sexual encounter.
Take this juicy tidbit: “The HPV vaccine is close to 100 per cent effective in protecting against four types of high-risk HPV strains, two of which are responsible for about 70 per cent of cervical cancers. The other two are responsible for about 90 per cent of genital warts. The vaccine is most effective if given before exposure to the virus.”
An important thing that schools are forgetting to mention is that if you get the vaccine, that doesn’t make you invincible. An HPV vaccine does not eliminate the need for protected sex or prudence about one’s choice and frequency of sexual partners. Barrier methods of protection (such as condoms) are still necessary to prevent HIV/AIDS and other types of infection not prevented by the HPV vaccine. Also, getting a regular Pap screening for cervical abnormalities has greatly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in Canada. Cervical cancer is considered to be 90% preventable with screening and treatment! So… does that mean I don’t have to have the needle?
I hate needles. I always have. And I’ll do everything in my power to not have a shot. But in this case, I would consider letting my guard down. The best thing to do is talk with your parents/guardians and your doctor before you make a decision.
What do you think? Will you be getting the shot?
All quotes are taken from the Ontario HPV Vaccination Program website
FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT:
HPV Fact Sheet
Your Local Public Health Unit:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/phuloc_mn.html
Health Canada: Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/hpv-vph_e.html
Public Health Canada: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV
Vaccine: Questions and Answers
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/hpv-vph/hpv-vph-vaccine_e.html
Cancer Care Ontario: Cervical Screening
http://www.cancercare.on.ca/index_cervicalScreening.htm
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)
http://www.sogc.org/media/guidelines-hpv-commentary_e.asp
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)
http://hpvinfo.ca/hpvinfo.html
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3649_1242735771__langld-en,00.html
