By now you’ve probably heard about the cervical cancer vaccine that is being actively marketed to young girls. But unless you’ve actively researched this vaccine, Gardasil, you may not be aware of all of the benefits of this revolutionary medical breakthrough. Gardasil protects against four common strains of HPV, the virus that causes both cervical cancer and genital warts. In fact, Gardasil protects against the two main strands of HPV that cause cervical cancer AND the two main strands responsible for genital warts.
While genital warts may not be the most pleasant topic of conversation, the truth is that over a million new cases of genital warts show up every year in the US according to the CDC. Many of these can be prevented if more young women get the Gardasil vaccine. While genital warts may not be as life-threatening as cervical cancer, they are much more common and are definitely not a fun disease to contract (search online for pictures of genital warts if you are feeling brave). While there have been mild side effects (headache, nausea, pain at the injection site) reported with the Gardasil vaccine, the benefits clearly outweigh the negatives. If you are a female between the ages of 15 and 26, talk to your doctor about whether it would make sense for you to get the Gardasil vaccine.
Gardasil does NOT guard against other STDs such as genital herpes, syphilis, and gonorrhea. If you are concerned that you might have an STD, you should visit a doctor or STD clinic for STD testing to ensure you receive the proper treatment.
