Birds and Bees and HPV

It is so exciting.... to me. There are now new guidelines for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine! That means adults older than 26 years old may qualify for vaccination! But why should you care?

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women and penile cancer in men. This is a sexually transmitted virus that is spread by direct sexual contact. HPV can be spread to the vagina, penis, throat, mouth, and anal area. The vaccine protects against the 9 strains of HPV virus most likely to cause cancer. Currently, there is no reliable screening method for HPV in men. Women are screened with pap smears every 1-5 years. The strains of HPV that are likely to cause cancer typically doesn't show any external symptoms. Vaccination is extremely reliable in preventing HPV related cancers.

If you wonder if you qualify for HPV vaccination -- give us a call!