Considering 50% of all sexually active adults in the United States have HPV (the percentage is significantly higher for younger adults!), it is
understandable that the CDC would want to do something to reduce that figure. Although there is little to no risk to males, and only 1% of males with
HPV ever become symptomatic, they are the most common transmitters of this STD and the ideal target to reduce the overall percentage of adults
infected with HPV.
However, there are over 30 strains of HPV that are sexually transmitted (100 strains in all). Gardasil only prevents against the contraction and thus
transmission of only 4 of those (strains 6, 11, 16, and 18). It is not going to make HPV go away. It is only going to reduce the commonality of those
4 strains and make the other 26 strains that are sexually transmitted more common.
One has to consider the risks involved and weigh those against the benefits.
The fact is that no direct correlation between HPV and Cervical Cancer (and Vulva, Vaginal, Anal, and Penal Cancers) has yet been established. These
forms of Cancer affect roughly 1 in 100,000 in men and 1.9 in 100,000 in women. Roughly 70% women with invasive Cervical Cancer had HPV for at least 6
months - 1 year or longer...but whether this is a direct cause has yet to be established.
HPV is also not persistent. The majority of people who are infected with HPV test negative for it within 7 years.
The purpose and effect of HPV are yet unknown. The most current medical research shows that HPV may have acted as a precursor or carrier to another
form of infection, possibly HIV, as it does not seem to do anything directly on it's own.
So, do you go with a 1 in 100,000 chance of Cancer that may or may not be caused by HPV, or do you take Gardasil to protect you from 4 of 30 sexually
transmitted strains to further reduce that chance, at the risk of the side effects?
Minor Side Effects
Pain in the area of the injection -- 83.9%
Swelling in the area of the injection -- 25.4%
Redness in the area of the injection -- 24.6%
Fever -- 13%
Nausea -- 6.7%
Dizziness -- 4%
Diarrhea -- 3.6%
Other Minor Side Effects with 1% each
Vomiting
Cough
Toothache
General ill feeling
Joint pain
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Stuffy nose
(Those are the side-effects you can live with)
Serious Side Effects (6.2% total)
Allergic Reaction/Anaphylactic Shock
Gastroenteritis
Appendicitis
Asthma or bronchospasms (airway spasms).
Grand Mal Seizures
Grave's Disease
Guillain-Barré syndrome (1 in 105,000)
Loss of Consciousness
Paralysis
Pulmonary Embolism
Venous Thromboembolic Events
Coma
Death (0.1 per 100,000)
Serious Side Effects Males don't have to worry about
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and Infertility
Spontaneous Abortion (.23 in 100,000)
The good news is that with Gardasil you don't have to worry about Rectal Bleeding or Incontinence which are common side-effects with most
pharmaceuticals!
[edit on 9-9-2009 by fraterormus]