The HPV Vaccine and Pap Results

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Gardasil was tested in a population which was much older than the target population
Gardasil was not associated with decreased cervical cancer risk
Gardasil safety testing was inadequate in the target population
Young women no longer even need paps because the risk of not completely clearing HPV infection on their own is zero ; check the new recommendations online for paps in women under 20
At best we're going to "protect" these vaccinated girls for 5-10 years , after the vaccine wears off, we'll either have to give expensive boosters or we'll just see a spike in new vaccine associated HPV infections in their 20s
It'll be decades before we know how many extra cases we'll have caused with Gardasil
the ads should say "one less with natural life-long immunity"
And serotype replacement, like what happened with Prevnar, will be a wild card in all this
we very well may unleash a relatively rare cancer causing strain by knocking down temporarily these 2 strains
just research the specifics of the trials that got the shot approved FUTURE 1 and FUTURE 2 trials and look at the numbers
the number of women, WOMEN, studied and the lack of effect on the overall chance of getting HPV changes and precancerous changes

Dr RC of WA 10:45PM October 26, 2008

Nancy,
Your comment "A person is only considered 'positive' for HPV if they have one of the 13 strains." is untrue.
What do mean "considered positive"? there isn't any consideration about it. Positive means that the test probes for you were tested reacted in adequate amounts of detection above the cutoff level (5,000 HPV DNA copies).
Most people beleive that HPV tests only for high-risk strains--NOT TRUE, don't take my word for it, from Qiagen's website, maker of the Digene Cpature 2: digene HPV hc2 Test For 40 cervical samples (96 tests); Probe Diluent, Low-Risk HPV Probe, High-Risk HPV Probe, Quality Controls, Calibrators, Capture Microplate, Reagents and Buffers Part #5196-1330.
The real problem is that most Dr's (and insurance companies) are not concerned with affiramative testing for low-risk strains.
You're so concerned with promoting this vaccine; maybe you should do a little research before regurgitating what the drive-by media and Merck would have you and everyone else believe.

Michael of IN 8:46PM August 05, 2008

For the moment, forget the fact the Gardasil's FDA approval was based upon short-term "junk-science", and forget the fact that Dr. Huh held a significant role in those test, and forget the fact that Dr Huh is a paid consultant for Merck (among many other pharma companies), and forget the fact there is no long-term efficacy study of safety analysis, this vaccine is now suspected of as many as 10 deaths!!!! Deaths! Through the Freedon of information act, Judicial Watch, a governmental watchdog and oversight group obtained a list of reported side effects (judicialwatch.org). I urge anyone considering this vaccine to read their report and consider the dangers associated with this drug and compare the real benefit..is death or paralysis a side effect you accept?? and for what benefit? You still need annual pap and there are still another 100 strains of the HPV virus for which you would not be protected. This is all about making this vaccine as standard and making money.

michael of IN 8:27PM August 05, 2008

Deborah,
I just wanted to thank you for your article on HPV & Paps.
I am one of those women like your friend. I was diagnosed with HPV in August 2007, having no idea what it was. My pap was normal, but we still did a colposcopy anyway. All came back clear.
My pap from January 2008 has come back abnormal, and I have another colposcopy scheduled for March 24. I'm alot more worried this time.
Like your friend, Sarah, I have experienced, and continue to experience, much fear and anxiety over this.
I am a vocal New York woman who is also committed to making the message about the HPV vaccine and HPV testing out (because not all doctors do it still…it’s all still so “new”)…especially to young girls. I have tried to find ways to spread the word, but have been told by others that they are already doing a good job of vaccinating young girls, etc. I wish I could find more ways to 'help' or get the word out. Heck, I would go on Good Morning America if it would make the difference in even one woman's life!
I am 42, and I really think it’s women around my age that might need the most education, as I certainly didn’t know what HPV was until I was diagnosed with it. I had always been careful about sex, and was shocked to find out that I had an STD..and one that could potentially cause cancer!!
There is so much to know about the disease…such as:
*There are usually no symptoms. (although genital warts are linked to a few strains)
*There are over 100 strains, 30 of which are genital, and only 13 of which have been linked to cervical cancer.
*80% of people have HPV, but not as many have one of the 13 more dangerous strains…
*A person is only considered 'positive' for HPV if they have one of the 13 strains.
*The body usually cures itself of the virus within a year, but not always.
* And what is scariest to me is that there is no test for it in men. Men have no way of knowing if they have it or not. Fortunately, they do not seem to be affected by the virus in the way women are (although there are a few studies that say it can lead to penile or anal cancer). The scary thing is that they can pass it on to other women..and a condom is not enough protection against HPV.
This virus has been in my body for a minimum of 3 years and who knows how long, as it could be from 20 years ago. That is another one of the problems is that the virus can lay dormant in a person's body for decades..so it is impossible to know where I got it from, or who I might possibly have infected as well.
My body is one of the few that hasn't healed itself. Fortunately today there is HPV testing so that it was caught 'early', and I am grateful to my doctor for that. However, coping with and learning to live with it (and the potential it has to wreak havoc on my body and my sex life) is not always easy. I often wish I had others in the same boat to talk to.
Thank you for your article…it’s a great start to getting the word out!! I do not wish the fear and anxiety Sarah and I have suffered on anyone and hope that by educating more and more people we can prevent this from happening.
Just one more thing... if any of you reading this is a mother of a young girl, please, please get her vaccinated. You don't want your children to suffer from small pox or measles, right? Then you want to put her at less of a risk for a cancer causing virus as well. The vaccine does not protect against all strains, but at least it's more protection than none...and hopefully one day there will be a vaccine against all strains of HPV!