FDA approves Cevarix for HPV and cervical cancer prevention

Time to watch your TV for more HPV (Genital human papillomavirus) commercials, Gardasil now has competition! As of this Friday, GlaxoSmithKline's Cevarix vaccination has been approved by the US Food & Drug Administration according to the Associated Press.

Cervarix, like Gardasil, will inhibit strains 16 and 18 of HPV - two strains which cause 75% of cervical cancers. Although there are more than 100 identified strains of the human papillomavirus, only about 15 are known to cause cervical cancer. Unfortunately, most of the six million US cases of HPV (yearly) show no symptoms and women don't realize that they're dealing with cancerous tissues until too late.

HPV Facts:

20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV

6.2 million Americans become newly infected each year

1% of the sexually active US population has genital warts at any one time

Low-risk HPV types can cause genital warts

The HPV vaccine has positive results

The truth about STI rates in the US - by yours truly

Cervical Cancer Facts:

The American Cancer Society believes that in 2008, over 11,000 American women were diagnosed with cervical cancer

In 10% of women with high-risk types of HPV (16 and 18 included), HPV lingers (is not killed by the body) and can develop into cervical cancer

Cervical cancer basics from one of our own WEGO Health Activists

Some questions for you! Is the HPV vaccine worth it? What do you think? Share your opinions here! Will men get the HPV vaccination? If men are interested in keeping their partners (current and future) safe, are they going to be willing to get the same kinds of vaccinations women are looking at? Is the HPV vaccine for both girls and boys? What have your community members been saying about this debate?

WEGO Health's Sexual Health group

WebMD's take on the Cevarix vaccination

Thanks to the CDC for both the HPV and the cervical cancer facts

Tags: Cervarix, Gardasil, GlaxoSmithKline, HPV, STDs, STIs, cervical cancer, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, vaccinations, More…vaccines, women's health

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Comment by chili4you on October 21, 2009 at 10:15am: I had a very close friend pass away from cervical cancer - it was heart wrenching to watch her go. This is an excellent breakthrough with modern medicine. Thanks for posting Sarah.

FDA approves Cevarix for HPV and cervical cancer prevention

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