A Shot of Prevention
A new vaccine blocks the deadliest strains of HPV, and may also be useful if you're already infected.
Hannah Wallace
10/2007
10/2007
Merck's Gardasil vaccine, introduced earlier this year, protects against four strains of HPV-two that cause genital warts and two that cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. The vaccine, which is only FDA-approved for girls and women ages 9 to 26, is most effective when given to girls before they become infected with the virus.
If you're already infected with HPV, you may still benefit from Gardasil, says Diane Harper, M.D., a lead vaccine researcher and director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at Dartmouth Medical School. She explains that if you're infected with one of the four strains blocked by the vaccine, a shot will still protect you against the other three. (Note: There's no way of knowing which strain of HPV you have; the DNA test only indicates if you have a cancer-causing strain-not which one it is.) The bottom line: If you're not monogamous, you may want to get vaccinated.
Harper also notes that even after receiving the vaccination, it's essential to keep up with your regular Pap smear tests and to keep in mind that you may need a booster shot down the road. No one knows how long the vaccine stays effective in the body, though long-term studies are now being held to find that out.
For additional information, contact the National Cervical Cancer Coalition; nccc-online.org or call 800-685-5531.
For more on HPV and natural ways to keep cervical cancer at bay, see the October 2007 issue of Natural Health.
Where to turn for more information on the virus and ways to prevent cervical cancer:
- National Cervical Cancer Coalition (nccc-online.org; 800-685-5531)
- Vitanica suppositories. Ask your naturopathic doctor or practitioner for information on Vitanica suppositories, which are not available over-the-counter.
- Wise Woman Herbal (wisewomanherbals.com; 541-895-5172) makes a vitamin A suppository.
- DIM-BioResponse DIM (bioresponse.com; 877-312-5777) and Nature's Way's DIM-Plus (naturesway.com; 800-962-8873) are both highly absorbable.
- Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Tori Hudson, N.D.
