Treatment for abnormal cervical cells, said WomensHealth.gov, includes freezing off abnormal tissue, removing tissue with a hot wire loop, and destroying abnormal tissue with lasers.
To reduce the risk of HPV, the Food and Drug Administration approved two HPV vaccines. The Mayo Clinic said that Gardasil protects against HPV strains that cause most genital warts and cervical cancer. Cervarix protects against cervical cancer but not genital warts.
The CDC recommended both vaccines for girls aged 11 or 12. NIAID reported that Gardasil is for males aged nine through 26.
IDPH advised that in order to eliminate risk for genital HPV, you should refrain from any genital contact with another person. The CDC recommended having monogamous relationships with one partner who has had no or few prior sex partners or limit the number of sex partners. WomensHealth.gov advocated always using condoms and taking care to use them properly.
Sources:
Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet. CDC.gov by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer. Cancer.gov by the National Cancer Institute. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts. NIAID.gov by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/genitalwarts/Pages/default.aspx
Human Papillomavirus. IDPH.state.il.us by the State of Illinois. Web 29 Jan 2102.
http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbpapill.htm
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts fact sheet. WomensHealth.gov by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/hum...
HPV Infection. MayoClinic.com by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hpv-infection/DS00906
Reviewed January 31, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Add a Comment1 Comments
While Gardasil was initially only approved by the FDA for girls and while the recommended age for vaccination is 11 or 12 years of age, it was never limited to those ages. Gardasil is available and always has been for girls up to the age of 26. The FDA initially only approved the vaccination for boys until last year when it changed that to recommended and it includes this same age range, up to age 26. Canada has increased its Gardasil coverage up to age 45 which for women who have been in monogomous relationships all their lives only to find themselves divorced or widowed leaves them no opportunity for protection against HPV in the US. I believe it should be available for all ages and allow the decision to be made between the patient and her doctor as to whether or not she should receive the series of shots, three in all. Merck also has a patient assistance program for those having financial difficulties obtaining the vaccine.
February 19, 2012 - 12:24pmThis Comment