Tag Archives: vaccine

HPV: Not Just For Crotches Anymore

SimchaOctober 15, 2008 //

According to a new study, HPV is moving on up…to mouths! That’s right, just when you thought Gardasil and Cervarix solved all your problems, now you have to worry about what else you’ve been opening wide. Since the ’70s. throat cancer cases have doubled, and the research shows HPV is to blame, with 39% of all occurrences caused by the human papilloma virus. Before you go cutting your man off from his favorite foreplay, listen to this: men are 35% more likely than women to develop oral cancer from HPV. Sheesh, making a new man go downtown may be riskier than you both think! Still, there’s more bad news — as of yet, there is no way to test male genitalia for HPV or anyone’s throat to see if they’re a carrier. So, it’s a roll of the dice and doctors fear you may even be able to contract the virus from kissing. There goes all the fun! Since this throat cancer link is a new revelation, the cervical cancer vaccines haven’t been tested or proven to prevent it. So, deep throat, you might want to use a condom for oral sex or just give that random stranger a handy and call it a night! [ABC News] Keep reading »

FDA Smackdown: Cervarix vs. Gardasil

SimchaMarch 20, 2008 //

The FDA is rushing to rubber stamp Gardasil, a cervical cancer vaccine, for women ages 27-45. Initially, the miracle HPV-preventer has been well received by its intended market — women and girls ages 9-26. Due to Gardasil’s success, amounting in $1.5 billion in sales last year, its makers, Merck & Co, are looking to expand potential beneficiaries. Merck has found Gardasil to be 91% effective in women 24-45 and are pushing for FDA approval within six months. The FDA is already reviewing a similarly effective British vaccine, Cervarix, put out by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, which is currently used for women up to 55 years of age in the U.K. No matter who wins the vaccine approval race, this is good news for women. With 250,000 reported deaths from cervical cancer every year, somethin’ has gotta be done! [ Boston Globe] Keep reading »

Speaking Of HPV…

Amelia McDonell-ParryMarch 5, 2008 //

Hey, you know Gardasil? The vaccine that is given in three doses to women up to age 26 which protects against certain strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, the number one cause of cervical cancer? Which by the way can be transmitted even if you use a condom? Well, as our Catherine discovered, many gynos don’t actually carry Gardasil in stock and it’s up to the patient to fill a prescription for the vaccine and bring it to their doc for injection. And as our Emily also discovered, most insurance providers don’t cover the $160 price tag because they don’t think the vaccine is “necessary”. Even though it’s an extremely effective preventative measure against a virus that can cause the kind of cancer that will kill nearly 4,000 women in the U.S. this year. Though, in the insurance companies’ defense, we suppose paying for the failed treatment for those 4,000 women may end up being cheaper. Anyway, we urge you to get the HPV-vaccine if you’re under the age of 26 and if your insurance doesn’t cover it, get on the horn and totally make it clear that your cervix is gonna be healthy and pissed. Keep reading »