The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause for genital warts. Each year, 4,000 women die from an HPV infection. The long-term side effect of some strains is cervical cancer, although initial infections are presented in the form of genital warts. Most sexually active people come into contact with HPV, but only certain strains cause cancer. Unfortunately, for women who come into contact with the malignant strain, the disease may not present symptoms until years later. Gardasil is a vaccine that prevents the transmission of HPV.
Gardasil Vaccine Process
Many parents and teenagers are unsure of how Gardasil is administered. Gardasil is an intramuscular shot. The need is injected into the muscle on the arm or thigh. The shots are a series of doses. The first shot is given in a clinic or doctor’s office for patients between the ages of nine and twenty six. Approximately two months later, the patient is scheduled for a second dose. The final dose is given about six months after the first one. It’s important that patients take the full cycle, or the injections may not provide full protection against HPV.
Effectiveness of the Gardasil Vaccination
Unfortunately, some young women who receive the Gardasil vaccine are not careful with sexual partners. Gardasil protects against certain strains of the virus, but it does not protect against all of the variants. It’s also less effective for women who have already been exposed to the HPV virus. According to the Center of Disease Control, about 30% of the HPV virus variant infections are not prevented by the Gardasil vaccine. Teenagers and women who receive the Gardasil vaccination should still use protection for other sexually transmitted disease as well as the unprotected HPV strains. Additionally, if the patient does not receive the full cycle of vaccination shots, she is not fully protected from HPV infection.
The Safety of Gardasil
Gardasil is approved by the Center of Disease Control and it has been tested in clinical trials with thousands of female patients. The side effects of Gardasil are also very mild. Since the injection is intramuscular, the site may be painful and cause discomfort. The most serious side effects are from unknown allergic reactions. Some patients have hives, but the most serious effects are swelling in the face, mouth, and throat. If swelling is extreme, the patient may need emergency medical care since it impedes breathing.
Additionally, patients are unable to take Gardasil while pregnant. Although research suggests that taking Gardasil while pregnant does no harm to the baby, doctors are hesitant to prescribe the vaccine.
Gardasil Cost
The average retail dose of Gardasil is $125 per dose, so the full cycle for the teenager is $375. Some insurance companies pay for the injections, but most expenses are out-of-pocket. The CDC has a program that helps young children under the age of 18 to receive the Gardasil vaccination for free.
Gardasil is an effective way to stop the spread of the HPV virus and control cervical cancer in women. Young women who are sexually active benefit from the vaccine, and the CDC is continually testing alternatives for women over the age of 26.
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