HPV Vaccine Shown to Prevent Genital Warts in Men

Recent results of a Phase III clinical trial involving Gardasil, a vaccine against four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), indicate that the vaccine may help prevent genital warts in boys and men. Results of the study, funded by Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, were presented earlier this month at the annual meeting of the European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN).

Currently in the U.S., Gardasil is only approved for use in for girls and women aged 9-26. Yet while the vaccine provides protection against two strains of HPV associated with 70 percent of cervical cancer in females, it also protects against strains of HPV that cause genital warts that HPV Newseffect both males and females. The study evaluated approximately 4000 males between 16 through 23 years of age. Study participants received either three doses of Gardasil at regular intervals or a placebo. All participants were followed for 36 months. At the time of vaccination, participants had no evidence of genital lesions, no history of genital warts and five or fewer lifetime sexual partners.

Participants who were vaccinated with Gardasil were approximately 90 percent less likely to develop genital warts than those that received a placebo. No study participants experienced any serious side effects related to vaccination. Merck intends to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application for Gardasil to the FDA by the end of 2008 for the use of the vaccine in boys and men ages 9 to 26 for the prevention of genital warts.

ASHA’s fact sheet on HPV vaccines addresses some of the most common questions about Gardasil and other vaccines in development. ASHA’s website also offers recent data on the safety of Gardasil.

Talk about HPV

I’m 3 months into being diagnosed with Herpes and HPV

From the Feedback Form

First off, thank you for the website and work you do. I’m 3 months into being diagnosed with Herpes and HPV and still can’t see much hope sometimes. It’s weird how hit and miss the emotions are.

I have a girlfriend, who is a virgin, and I’ve told her. It was incredibly difficult, but it was actually 2 weeks after I told her when we began dating. There are amazing people. I intend to marry her if she’ll have me, and she knows that too. We will not have sex until we get married either, if that is the case.

I want to know if there are stories of married people with children where one partner has herpes and the other doesn’t, long term. I need to know it can be done, otherwise I don’t know if I can put her at that risk.

I’m also a bit worried about Gardasil regarding the HPV - have you heard much about the adverse reactions?

From Angela aka Yoshi2me

You are more than welcome to check out our Herpes Telling Story if you’d like. The questions were answered by my husband. He answered the questions not too long after I told him that I had genital herpes when we were dating.

We’ve been married for 7 years now and as far as we know, he has not contracted herpes from me.

My 16 year old recently had her first round of the HPV Vaccine. So far all is well and there have been no side effects for her. The shot is a 3 part one and she’ll go back in a couple of months to have round 2 done.

I think they are going to start encouraging that parents have their girls vaccinated before they begin Junior High. I think it’s a good idea and plan to have my now 4 year old and 2 year old vaccinated when they reach that age.

My Daughter will soon be ONE LESS

You guessed it! She’s started the 3 part vaccination process with Gardasil the Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant. If you’re not sure what that is, visit www.GARDASIL.com and read up on it.

It was just a matter of time before we got the vaccine going for my teen. When it first came out I knew it would take a little while for the insurance companies to get their act together, so we waited. When we went in a couple of weeks ago and had the opportunity to ask about this our family doctor insisted it was a smart choice.

Gardasil does NOT prevent against all 100+ types of HPV but it does prevent two types that can cause cervical cancer and two more types that can cause genital warts. Hello People, CERVICAL CANCER can be prevented? That’s the biggest reason to get your girls vaccinated when it comes time.

I asked my doctor when the four and two year old could get vaccinated and she told me that eventually they will be setting it up to encourage parents to have it done before Junior High School years.

So once you get the first shot you go back two months after the 1st appointment for another shot. Once you get the second shot you back back six months after the 1st appointment. (In other words, every two months until the three part series is completed.)

That’s definitely ONE LESS thing that we will have to worry about. Science and medical breakthrough never cease to amaze me.

You know a lot about breast cancer, but what do you know about cervical cancer?

You know a lot about breast cancer, but what do you know about cervical cancer? Everyone knows about the “one less” ads promoting the Gardasil vaccine, but what do they really know about Human Papamillovirus?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. You can get it from skin-to-skin contact, even if you have protection.

Men can carry the disease but there is no test for them. Most people don’t even show any symptoms of the disease.

A new campaign called Tune In HPV has risen around this issue and has provided a safe space for people to share stories. Our Web site, www.tuneinhpv.com, provides a place to share your story about HPV. It doesn’t matter whether you had the disease, knew someone who had it, or wanted to share something distantly related. We are open to anything that promotes HPV awareness.

We plan on making videos from the submitted stories and posting them on the Web site as well. These videos are short, off beat, humorous at times, and always informational. We hope that visitors will gain knowledge while being entertained by watching our videos. We are not in any way trying to give our medical advice to people, please seek your doctor for that. We are simply here to provide a place for people’s stories.

Our information is supported by the Washington D.C. Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control. Tune in HPV is a grass roots campaign built through the School of Communication at American University by a Communication and Social Change course.

We want to encourage you to “tune in” to the knowledge within you and to protect yourself from HPV. We want to hear what you know, what you’ve experienced, and we want to make you laugh and think.

Be sure and let Giovanna Chesler, our executive producer, know what you think of tuneinhpv.com at chesler@american.edu

Read more News Articles

Another place to share your HPV story

Join our HPV discussion group

One in four young females in the U.S. has at least one common sexually transmitted infection

One in four young females in the U.S. has at least one common sexually transmitted infection (STI), according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference in Chicago. In the study, 838 girls aged 14-19 were tested for a range of STIs, including chlamydia, HPV, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes. According to the results, an alarming total of 3.2 million teen girls (about 26% of girls in this age group) were infected.

According to the report, 20% of Caucasian and Mexican American girls had an STI, while the percentage was 48% for African American girls, demonstrating that group is most at risk. About 15% of those who had an STI were found to have more than one. Out of the young women who reported having had only one partner, one in five had an STI. The two most common STIs were HPV at 18.3% and chlamydia at 3.9%.

The CDC released results from an additional study that may help explain why the STI rate is so high in young women. This second study showed that most women who received contraception from their doctors did not receive any information on STIs or how to prevent them, and the importance of testing was not discussed. The CDC suggests that young, sexually active women be tested each year for chlamydia and other STIs. They also stress the importance of the Gardasil(R) vaccine, which helps prevent genital warts and cervical cancer.

When was the last time you had a Pap Test?

A year after the first vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) was approved, women say they know that Pap tests are important, are having them regularly, and rely on their doctors more than any other source for information to help them make health decisions, according to a new nationwide survey of 1,421 women ages 18 to 45 who have heard of the new HPV vaccine.

However, the survey also revealed that nearly one in four uninsured women (24 percent) have not had a Pap test in the last three years, and Latinas are less aware than other women that HPV is sexually transmitted. The survey was conducted by Lake Research Partners for the American Social Health Association (ASHA) in June - one year after the Food & Drug Administration approved a vaccine that protects against the four strains of HPV responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.

Women who said they had not heard of the HPV vaccine that protects against cervical cancer were excluded from the survey, but more than 90 percent said they had heard of it. Of the women surveyed, a strong majority (85 percent) say women should get Pap tests once a year, and 87 percent say they have had one in the past three years.

Women understand the link between HPV and cervical cancer - more than eight in ten say that HPV is a cause of cervical cancer, and two-thirds (66 percent) say it is a major cause. Still, many also cite genetics and family history (80 percent), herpes (46 percent) and smoking (45 percent) as causes when, in fact, cervical cancer is caused by HPV.

Gardasil is the only cervical cancer vaccine

Let’s talk about HPV

Everything you ever wanted to know about Gardasil and more

Gardasil Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine

Read this information with care before you or your child gets Gardasil. You or your child will need 3 doses of the vaccine. It is important to read this leaflet when you receive each dose. This leaflet does not take the place of talking with your health care professional about Gardasil.

(As you can see I picked up the leaflet from my doc’s office, came home, and then I copied it to my blog so that you guys could get access to the information. Not all doc’s offices have this information so I felt it would be a good idea to share it with you.)

What is Gardasil and what is it used for?

Gardasil is a vaccine (injection/shot) that helps protect against the following diseases caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Types in the vaccine (6, 11, 16, and 18):

• Cervical cancer (cancer of the lower end of the uterus or womb)
• Abnormal and precancerous cervical lesions
• Abnormal and precancerous vaginal lesions
• Abnormal and precancerous vulvar lesions
• Genital warts

Gardasil helps prevent these diseases - but it will not treat them. You or your child cannot get these diseases from Gardasil.

What other key information about Gardasil should I know?

• Vaccination does not substitute for routine cervical cancer screening. Females who receive Gardasil should continue cervical cancer screening.
• As with all vaccines, Gardasil may not fully protect everyone who gets the vaccine.
• Gardasil will NOT protect against diseases due to non-vaccine HPV types. There are more than 100 HPV types; Gardasil helps protect against 4 types (6, 11, 16, and 18). These 4 types have been selected for Gardasil because they cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts.
• This vaccine will not protect you against HPV types to which you may have already been exposed.
• Gardasil also will not protect against other diseases that are not caused by HPV.
• Gardasil works best when given before you or your child has any contact with certain types of HPV (i.e., HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18).

Who can receive Gardasil?

Gardasil is for girls and women 9 through 26 years of age. See “Who should not receive Gardasil?” below.

Who should not receive Gardasil?

Anyone who:

• is allergic to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. A list of ingredients can be found at the end of this leaflet.
• has an allergic reaction after getting a dose of the vaccine.

What should I tell my health care professional before I am vaccinated or my child is vaccinated with Gardasil?

It is very important to tell your health care professional if you or your child:

• has had an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
• has a bleeding disorder and cannot receive injections in the arm.
• has a weakened immune system, for example, due to a genetic defect or HIV infection.
• is pregnant or is planning to get pregnant. Gardasil is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
• has any illness with a fever more than 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C).
• takes or plans to take any medicines, even those you can buy over the counter.

Your health care professional will decide if you or your child should receive the vaccine.

How is Gardasil given?

Gardasil is given as an infection. You or your child will receive 3 doses of the vaccine. Ideally the doses are given as:

• First dose: at a date you and your health care professional choose.
• Second dose: 2 months after the first dose.
• Third dose: 6 months after the first dose.

Make sure that you are your child gets all 3 doses. This allows you or your child to get the full benefits of Gardasil. If you or your child misses a dose, your health care professional will decide when to give the missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of Gardasil?

As with all vaccines, there may be some side effects with Gardasil. Gardasil has been shown to be generally well tolerated in women and girls as young as 9 years of age.

The most commonly reported side effects included:

• pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site.
• fever.

Difficulty breathing (bronchospasm) has been reported very rarely. If you or your child has any unusual or sever symptoms after receiving Gardasil, contact your health care professional right away. For a more complete list of side effects, ask your health care professional.

What are the ingredients in Gardasil?

The main ingredients are purified inactive proteins that come from HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. It also contains amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, sodium chloride, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sodium borate, and water for infection.

What are cervical cancer, precancerous lesions, and genital warts?

Cancer of the cervix is a serious disease that can be life-threatening. This disease is caused by certain HPV types that can cause the cells in the lining of the cervix to change from normal to precancerous lesions. If these are not treated, they can turn cancerous.

Genital warts are caused by certain types of HPV. They often appear as skin-colored growths. They are found on the inside or outside of the genitals. They can hurt, itch, bleed, and cause discomfort. These lesions are usually not precancerous. Sometimes, it takes multiple treatments to eliminate these lesions.

What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

HPV is a common virus. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 20 million people in the United States had this virus. There are many different types of HPV; some cause no harm. Other can cause diseases of the genital area. For most people the virus goes away on its own. When the virus does not go away it can develop into cervical cancer, precancerous lesions, or genital warts, depending on the HPV type. See “What other key information about Gardasil should I know?”

Who is at risk for Human Papillomavirus?

In 2005, the CDC estimated that at least 50% of sexually active people catch HPV during their lifetime. A male or female of any age who takes part in any kind of sexual activity that involves genital contact is at risk. Many people who have HPV may not show any signs or symptoms. This means that they can pass on the virus to others and not know it.

Will Gardasil help me if I already have Human Papillomavirus?

You may benefit from Gardasil if you already have HPV. This is because most people are not infected with all four types of HPV contained in the vaccine. In clinical trails, individuals with current or past infection with one or more vaccine-related HPV types prior to vaccination were protected from disease caused by the remaining vaccine HPV types. Gardasil is not intended to be used for treatment for the above mentioned diseases. Talk to your health care professional for more information.

* This leaflet is a summary of information about Gardasil. If you would like more information, please talk to your health care professional or visit gardasil.com - This information was issued in June of 2006, Manufactured and Distributed by: MERCK & CO., INC., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA 96823 - This information is presented only for informational and educational reasons and should not take the place of your own doctor’s medical advice. Permission was granted to help spread the word about the HPV vaccine Gardasil.

Let’s Talk about HPV

Most popular HPV posts in September

1. Anybody quite smoking pot/alcohol to boost immune system?

2. Oral HPV, how common is it?

3. 28 - male, advised to get gardasil shot?

HPV and Men: Should Boys Be Vaccinated Against the STD?

My best friend sent me this article through e-mail and I thought it was good enough to share here with you guys.

Anal cancer is not something you often read or hear about in the daily news.

Maybe it’s too taboo to talk about this part of the body. Actress Farrah Fawcett did not mention what type of cancer she is battling, but, according to reports, the 59-year-old actress has a rare form of anal cancer.

Click here to the see “HPV: The Male Factor: video

The cancer itself is also rare, affecting more than 4,600 people each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). It isn’t top of mind. However, the number of cases of the cancer has remained at a steady number since last year, which means, it has not gone away.

In 2006, there were approximately 4,660 new cases of anal cancer in the U.S. and around 660 deaths, according to the ACS. This year, more than 4,600 cases are expected.

Likewise, oral cancer, that is cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue, are not cancers commonly discussed. In fact, of the 45,000 new cases of head and neck cancers expected this year, only 10,000 will affect the back of throat area. Oral cancer is on the decline in America, except in men over the age of 45.

The culprit in the rise in both oral and anal cancers in men is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that can form in the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), anus or in the linings of the vagina, cervix or rectum.

The number of HPV cases, while still high in women, is increasing in the male community, particularly in gay men, according to Dr. Robert Mayer, vice chairman of academic affairs at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

One of the main factors leading to HPV and eventually, anal cancer, is engaging in anal sex. In addition to anal sex, other risk factors include having multiple sex partners, frequent anal redness or soreness and smoking.

The cancer may be mistaken for skin cancer, since the tumors can initially form on the skin area outside of the anus, which is the same skin that is on the buttocks.

“Virally, it’s a condition that is sexually transmitted,” said Mayer. “It’s the same virus that causes anal cancer. For many years, it was associated with venereal warts, giving a connotation that it was related to some form of sexual activity. For years, it occurred mostly with women, but now it’s occurring with a larger percentage of (gay) men. It’s related to sexual practices and the passage of virals in the anus.”

Oral Cancer

Although HPV and cervical cancer can be readily diagnosed in women through annual pap smears, men don’t normally undergo any sort of tests that would detect oral HPV or throat cancer, said Dr. Erich M. Sturgis, of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

“Cervical cancer is so well established,” he said. “In fact, well before we had the HPV vaccination, we were able to prevent cervical cancer and catch cervical cancer early because of the good screening methods. We don’t have the same kind of methods of screening for cancers of the throat and oral HPV.”

Men also are a “hidden reservoir” for the virus and can pass the disease onto their female partners, Sturgis said.

It’s for these reasons that Sturgis believes research is needed to determine whether the HPV vaccine, sold under the brand Gardasil and currently available to young girls in the U.S., is effective for boys.

“I’m aware that drug companies are studying their vaccinations in men,” he said. “And that’s hopefully going to provide evidence that the vaccine is effective in preventing the virus in men.”

Sturgis said some of the studies of the HPV vaccine and men are focused on men who are at high risk for anal cancer.

“It’s a group that is more likely to get (regular) anal or genital swabs and, therefore, it’s easier to track the disease,” he said.

In the meantime, men and women should view cervical, oral and anal cancers as sexually transmitted diseases, or at least understand that these potentially deadly cancers are more often than not caused by a sexually transmitted disease, and protect themselves, Sturgis said.

“Condoms will protect against the virus somewhat,” he said. “But women should be examined each year, and if they do have an abnormal pap smear, they should be treated and make sure their partners are treated.”

By Tina Benitez and Marrecca Fiore

Be sure you print this out OR forward it to someone you love so that will learn more about the virus that can cause cervical cancer.

This was posted on Sexual Health Buzz strictly for personal use and educational purposes to help try and spread the word on cervical cancer and HPV in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

Have you done a self breast exam today?

Teen Sex vs. Cancer Prevention

The Chomsky’s have become advocates for the use of Gardasil, the vaccine for HPV or the Human Papillomavirus.

The Chomsky’s believe the vaccine could have prevented Caryn’s cancer.

They along with their doctor believe the vaccine should be widely used by girls and women across the country.

Dr. Rebecca Stern told CBS4 News, “I’ve seen a significant increase in the detection of HPV. I really think the vaccination is a medical breakthrough.”

Legislators in Florida tried to make the vaccine mandatory but that effort failed.

Some in the legislature argued the vaccine could promote sexual activity among girls and young women. ~ Interesting story at CBS4.com

If you take the time to read the entire story I think you will be fascinated. In a nutshell, Caryn is a cancer survivor who didn’t think she could have kids. Her mother steps in at age 59 and offers to have the couple’s baby through invitro fertilization. It’s an amazing story of love and sacrifice.

It’s unfortunate that the effort to make the vaccine mandatory failed because some argued that the vaccine would promote sexual activity. It’s one thing to say that the measure failed because they want the government to stay out of their medical choices. It’s a completely different ball game when somebody says it’s not going to be mandatory because they think it will encourage more teens to have sex.

Adults need to stop worrying about their teens having sex. No matter how much you talk to them and hope that they make good choices they are going to do what they want to do and if they are going to have sex they will find a way to have sex.

I’m so frustrated that somebody could place the possibility of teens having sex (which will never go away) above and beyond cancer prevention!

In any case, I’m thrilled that this couple were able to have children and that the twins have a Mom who is cancer free today!

Talk about Cervical Cancer

Talk about Vaccines

See this post on Sexual Health Buzz

See this post on Domestic Divapalooza