How many normal paps can you have after HPV to not spread?
I was just wondering after being diagnosed with HPV and abnormal pap, how many normal pap smears should you have to be considered hpv free?
Hpv is the virus that causes abnormal cervical cells. You can get rid of the abnormal cells but you can never get rid of the virus and always have the possibility of spreading it without protection.
POSSIBLY IF U TAKE MEDS FOR IT BUT U CANT TOTALLY GET RID OF IT, ITS WIT U FOREVA!
Is my girlfriend a cheater?
She was a virgin, but were you? It is entirely possible that you could have been exposed to HPV from a prior relationship. not everyone that is infected shows symptoms. in fact, most people infected with HPV never know they have it. So you could have previously been infected but your immune system was suppressing the virus, until now.
If you were a virgin and never had any genital to genital contact (not necessarily sex but even rubbing) with someone else, then it is possible your girlfriend passed the virus to you. BUT, the same goes for her, she could have been a virgin but still had genital to genital contact without penetration prior to dating you. That doesn’t make her a cheater.
*Add: you are correct, there are different strains of HPV. some cause genital warts, others cause the warts you get on your hands. The virus prefers a particular place to live, so while unlikely I suppose it is possible to get a hand wart on your penis. The only way to tell is to have a doctor examine you. they can also run tests to type the HPV you have.
Any males diagnosed with hpv with only symptom being itching?
I have had itching in the anus and testicles for the last several months.
I have seen 12 doctors, billed thousands to my health care provider etc etc etc I ordered an Make urine HPV kit form MDLabs and will know on monday.
I am going to keep this simple…
Have any males out there been diagnosed with hpv with the only symptom of itching in the genital region?
Tips: HPV and sex education?
HPV and sex education?So I was diagnosed with HPV today and it got me thinking about the quality of sex ed (No I’m not blaming quality of sex ed for my mistakes, I’m just making an observation). I went to a relatively decent high school in Manhattan. Even though it was a public school, they offered AP courses, great preparation classes, and 97% of the kids went off to college, and great ones too. yet we had perhaps 1 semester ( 4 1/2 months) of health class and maybe only spent a few weeks talking about sex ed. In sex ed the emphasis was, unprotected sex results in diseases and possibly pregnancy, so if you are going to have sex ALWAYS use a condom. Among the STDs, they focus heavily on AIDS which makes sense because its a very big problem and its on the rise. Then they say “the safest thing to do is to have no sex at all: abstinence”. while some kids do practice abstinence, most people, as you know, are risk takers (some more so than others). some risk takers will use a condom, and others will engage in the more risky unprotected sex.
Long story short (and sorry for the TMI) I made a bad decision, got involved with a stupid boyfriend who decided one night to take off his condom without my knowledge, had an unplanned pregnancy, and a year later come to find not only do I have HPV, but also oral HPV,
Not much is really said about HPV in sex education and except for pregnancy, not much is really said about woman’s health either and the importance of pap smears. I’m entering my last year of college and I can only think of a few female friends who have gotten a pap smear before, and most of them only got maybe one and never went back a year later. I didn’t get my first pap until I went to my first prenatal appointment. A lot of doctors dont even realize all of the medical consequences of sex. A year ago I experienced oral thrush and tonsil problems, that never went away. 3 doctors (A gyno, ENT, and infectious disease specialist) dismissed it as “oh I’ve seen that before, its nothing. Dont worry its not an STD, just a fungus. Sometimes people just get this and it goes away”. A year later I come to find out that it is in fact an STD…oral HPV, and a lot of doctors seem to not realize that this is possible. I found this out when I got an abnormal pap smear and a doctor realized the correlation. not only was I confused as to what HPV is and had to do my research, a lot of my other friends dont know much about it either. Its not like AIDS where young people can easily say “okay I know what that is” and state a few facts that they learned about it in school. I was even shocked to find out that this is the most common type of STD since nothing was really said about it. the good thing is, I love my daughter, I’m learning more and more every day, and trying to make the best of my life.
I guess the point I’m trying to make here is I wish I made better decisions but at the same time I can’t help but be a bit disappointed in the way my sex ed class was conducted. instead of having a semester of health class, there should separately be a semester of sex ed. A few weeks crash course is just simply not enough and womans health issues and HPV need to be talked about much more.
What do you guys think? Whats your take on this? any other women with HPV feel this way? thanks in advance for answers, opinions, thoughts =)Kari, I can agree with you to a certain extent. But a great share of adults ask the same question too.
Tips And Tricks:
kari wIf the read the many many “could I be pregnant” questions on here you begin to wonder if they teach these kids ANYTHING about sex or conception!
Mirabella7I just don’t think there is enough information out there and especially when most schools are told to teach abstinence. I have HPV as well and I didn’t know anything about it. I have had 3 years of normal paps…yay! we all need to work together to educate young girls about HPV and how you can get it even with condoms.
rebaAt my school, sex ed is optional. It is a portion of health class, which is optional. And, on sex ed DAY (one day only), parents can pull their kids out of class that day if they don’t want them to learn about it. And, probably 1/3 of the class is pulled out.
But, this year, since we had 7 pregnant girls in a school with 250 students, they allowed us to teach it in a required class, so at least everyone got to hear it.
I agree, everyone should be taught more info about HPV, as I think they are now saying almost 50% of the population has it.
navy_wife905i must agree. my sex ed course was not even 6weeks long and i cant really recall talking about anything. it was so fast and so short. i did practice safe sex i got put on bc we used a condom and i had him pull out. i was very very worried about stds and pregnancy. i am pregnant and at my first prenatal visit they did a routine pap and it came back abnormal(my first abnormal pap). my dr said its more than likely my body reacting from the stress of being pregnant but i cant help but worry that when i get my coloscopy that they will find hpv or cancer. my husband is the only one ive had unprotected sex with but there is no test for men to see if they carry hpv. which scares me alot. but i was also told by my pediatricain, my adult family dr, and my old gyn that the hpv shot were more dangerous than helpful and told me not to get it. so now im wondering if they were severly wrong and that it might have prevented this abnormal pap. i have my coloscopy on july 21 so then ill get my answers but i cant help but think about it. and wonder if it could hurt our little one thats growing in my belly. i guess ill find out more soon. but i agree that sex ed needs to be much mich better and stress that sex yes sex is how you get pregnant and they need to discuss the less likely but still possible way to get pregnant like pre cum and the pull out method. i also think they need to stress that pregnancy is not the worst thing that can come out of unprotected sex. i dont know why thats all that people stress is wrap up or youll get her pregnant becuase i personally think death from aids is worse. ugh i just hope that when my little one is that age that sex ed will be better although i am going to give them a few lessons on this subject to make sure.
ADD:for elf i know im very very highly upset because those drs were supposed to protect me and now i feel as if ive been exposed. im trying to keep my hopes up that its nothing but my fears always return. and thanks for being a great teacher!
elf_like1I’m guessing that in America girls don’t get the HPV vaccine?
I am a teacher in Australia and I have taught health. I always mention Cervical Cancer & by relation HPV, but then I’m a science teacher as well. When I teach reproduction I always talk about pap smears as well.
But I would imagine that the awareness of HPV in general would have improved over the last 2-3 years because the HPV vaccine which protects women from some but not all strains of the virus. It is administered to I think year 7 or 9 students and the parents have to sign the form & send it back to get the vaccine for free.
Unfortunately it’s most probably the fact that people don’t know that cervical cancer has an underlying viral link that means people aren’t very aware of HPV. most people think you just get ALL cancers from nowhere.
Keep talking to people though and encouraging your female friends with your story. I am the pap smear police amongst my friends, always checking people are up to date because I have a friend with cervical cancer.
EDIT:oh my God I cannot believe that doctors said that the vaccine was dangerous. the stats in Australia alone would disprove that. Thousands of Aussie school girls get the Gardasil HPV vaccine every year for the last 3 years or so.
greatprincemichaelIt sounds like your sex ed was very good compared to much of the country. Regarding HPV infection a married man or woman runs the same sort of risks if their spouse cheats on them. I am outraged he took off the condom without your knowledge, that ought to be considered sexual assault.
Although I agree with religious conservatives who want to challenge the youth to delay sexual activity for a while, I totally disagree with their message that a condom is a provision for sin. I send my Christian friends to the website below which debunks the whole thing against premarital sex in the Bible. That way they have no excuse not to support comprehensive sex education.
What do you think? answer below! Oral Care Tips And Tricks – Information source regarding oral care and its treatment.
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Encourage partners to go for MC – Xaba
MINISTER of Health Benedict Xaba has urged women in Swaziland to support and encourage their partners go for male circumcision. the minister made these remarks through the acting Director of Health Services, Dr. Simon Zwane during a women’s day celebration in support of the Soka Unqobe campaign held at the Mountain Inn. Xaba, who has circumcised, stated that such a procedure could be done at any age but the Soka Unqobe campaign was targetting males aged 15-49 years. He said while male circumcision seemed focused on men’s health, yet it had benefits for their female partners as well. “Studies have shown that circumcised men are less likely to be infected with human papilloma Virus (HPV) that causes cancer. as a result, the female partners of circumcised men have a lower risk of cervical cancer reduced by 25%,” he stated.the minister said women had an important role to play in supporting their partners and encouraging them to undergo MC. He said after the procedure, women could continue to support men by encouraging them to follow the aftercare instructions.He applauded the political will demonstrated by government, including the technical and financial support of the United States government, UN agencies and others.Paul Mangara, FLAS MC site Coordinator, in his presentation emphasised that men who are circumcised should continue using other methods of preventing HIV such as always using a condom when having sex and remaining faithful through having one sexual partner.He explained that cancer of the cervix in women was due to the HPV that thrived under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during intercourse. He explained that MC clients should abstain from sexual activity for six weeks after surgery.Mangara said even though the stitches might fall off after two weeks it was important for women to know they should abstain from sex with their partners until full healing, otherwise they would be increasing the risk of transmission.
MPs want answers on World Bank funding
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) have questioned the criteria used by the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration Chief Gcokoma for giving money to eight constituencies instead of the 55.the World Bank gave the ministry money last month and the minister announced that it would be given to the eight constituencies, among others, are Mkhiweni and Motshane.“the minister should have divided the money amongst the 55 constituencies. Why is the minister causing division between the constituencies?” wondered Khubuta MP Charles Myeza. He wondered why it was always the same constituencies that were benefitting. Mafutseni MP Joseph Madonsela shared the same sentiments, adding “lomunye umhlonishwa ngoba wetsembise sagila naye ubese uyanikwa.” Motshane MP, Robert Magongo said it was wrong of the MPs to question this because they were planting doubt even to the electorate.
‘Community developers let us down’
HHUKWINI MP, Mkhululi Dlamini said he was branded corrupt because of a community developer who was incompetent.the MP was said to have misused the Regional Development Fund money. EndedHe ended up writing a four-page letter telling the Speaker Prince Guduza to suspend him pending investigations. He also said he was ready to step down if he was found to be corrupt.During the debate of the ministry of tinkhundla administration third quarter report, the MP said community developers’ duty was to sign for the release of money for projects and not to be involved in politics.“some of us have been branded corrupt because the developers tell people not to accept some of the things which were bought for certain projects. MandatedThat is not what they are mandated to do,” said the MP.Motshane MP Robert Magongo also felt the community developers had dumped their role of representing the ministry and were becoming politicians. “if the community developers are going to side with people who were running for elections before that is their problem,” said the MP.
New website for Info Centre launched
THE National HIV and AIDS Information and Training Centre has increased its reach by launching its new website, infocenter.nercha.org.sz. a panel of speakers, including representatives from the ministry of health, the ministry of information, communications and technology and PEPFAR, gathered at the Info Centre to offer their support for a bold and exciting new venture. “We all agree that we need information and information is power,” said Richard Phungwayo, the Info Centre’s Technical Working Group Chairperson. “But the challenge we face is how to get the information.”CoursesThe new website, which includes e-Learning courses, health documents and book references, will help Swazis with access to the internet face. “Just a click of the mouse will provide anybody on the World Wide Web with a growing database of HIV and health-related resources.” as rates of comprehensive knowledge about HIV remain minimal, myths about prevention methods are spread throughout the Kingdom, and people continue to be unsure about where and how to access health services, it’s clear that much of the good work people in the healthcare system here are doing does not reach the ears of the people on the ground,” says Jennifer Albertini of PEPFAR. “However, with endeavours like today’s launching of the Info Centre’s website, we are moving closer to bringing the necessary messages to the people.”NERCHA Executive Director Derek von Wissell said: “the problem with knowledge is that we know from history that this alone does not change behaviour. But the foundation has to be knowledge first. if people don’t know then the change you are acquiring is meaningless.”the Info Centre’s website also has a comments section where readers can give suggestions and feedback for future updates. It also provides links to numerous HIV-related websites in other countries and regions. Minister of Health Benedict Xaba, through a prepared statement read by a representative, showed strong support for the Info Centre, which was founded in 2007 under director, Busi Dlamini and its new website. “this, indeed, is a very significant step in the dissemination of critical information as we continue to respond to HIV and AIDS,” he said. He pledged his ministry’s commitment to support this development by providing information needed for the website that relates to the health sector.Minister of ICT Nelisiwe Shongwe stated that, “Access to ICT and the internet is growing day by day in our country, surely the Info Centre is going in the right direction in pursuit of this vision of a nation empowered with HIV and AIDS information.”
What are the chances that I got HPV from my current boyfriend?
I have been with this guy for 4 1/2 years now. I have not had sex with anyone else since 7 months before I got with this guy. I have paps done every year and have never had an abnormal pap until last july. My boyfriend slept with someone else while we were together and it was a year before my last pap. I want to know if anyone else thinks that I got HPV from this girl?
You got it from your boyfriend not from the other girl. Be sure he lets the other girl know that if he tests positive for HPV so that she can go get a pap if she hasn't had one recently.
i also have hpv. and my doctor said like others have already said, that it lies dormat. especially until your immune system is down. if you smoke, it's more likely to be a problem because smoking lowers your immune system. i think i got it through my ex husband, but it didn't show up for years after the divorce. i have had dysplasia more than once on a pap. i didn't realize the new shot could help someone already diagnosed with hpv. if this is true, i would like to learn more about it if anyone knows for sure. continue to get regular paps now for sure, so that you don't end up with cervical cancer.
Unless you had sex with that girl, you got it from your boyfriend. He is the one who slept with someone else and didn't bother to use a condom with either of you. It could also have come from your previous partner and was dormant until now. Why don't you focus on what is important. Get treated and start practicing SAFE SEX! Next time it might be herpes or HIV. good Health.
It's hard to say. like everyone has said, HPV can lay dormant for weeks, months or even years. He could have contracted it from her and passed it on to you or you could already have gotten it from anyone else you've had genital to genital contact with.
To clear up some confusion from everyone else's answers. You can get the Guardisil vaccine if you have one type of HPV. It won't TREAT the strand of HPV that you have, but it will prevent you from contracting any of the other types it protects against in the future. Remember that it is currently only approved for a certain age group. Next, safer sex does not always prevent the transmission of HPV. HPV is transmitted through any type of genital to genital contact(doesn't have to be sex!), and because the condom only covers the male penis, HPV is still likely to be transmitted. the only way to protect yourself is to get the vaccine if you can and limit the number of sexual partners. the more partners you have or your partners have had, the more likely you are to contract HPV.
Good luck, hope everything goes well with the Pap and the boyfriend 
males do not have symptoms of HPV all they do is carry it from one to another so , yes the girl did infect you by him transferring it over.
i hope your not with him anymore after he cheated ?
make sure u get checked out, oh and BTW to that other chick, u can get HPV by skin to skin contact, maybe u should read up on ur facts before u start handing out ADVICE!!! stupid…
cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.h…
cervicalscreen.health.gov.au/…
TRANSGENE (TNG)
- A strategic decision by Roche, not data driven
- Current Phase IIb trial in HPV-caused CIN2/3 interim data expected by end 2011 or early 2012
- At availability of these clinical data, Transgene will decide on Phase III development, potentially in co-development with a partner
Transgene (Paris:TNG) (Transgene (NYSE Euronext Paris: FR0005175080)) announces today the termination by Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) of the 2007 agreement under which Transgene granted Roche exclusive global development and commercialization rights to TG4001/RG3484, a therapeutic vaccine candidate to treat notably high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions (CIN2/3) caused by Human Papilloma Virus infection. TG4001/RG3484 is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial in this indication.
Roche has indicated to Transgene that its decision to terminate the license agreement is based on its own strategic reasons and is not data driven.
Transgene does not expect that the termination of the license agreement will have any impact on the ongoing Phase IIb trial involving 200 patients: with over 195 patients enrolled to date, recruitment in this trial is almost completed and interim data are expected by the end of 2011 or early 2012.
Upon effective termination this summer, Transgene will regain full and unencumbered development and commercialization rights to TG4001.
Transgene does not expect Roche’s decision to have a significant financial impact for the company in the short term.
If clinical data in the ongoing Phase IIb trial is positive at the end of this year, Transgene currently intends to prepare the product for a first registration trial (Phase III) to be started in late 2012 or early 2013. In connection with the possible start of the Phase III, Transgene intends to look for a co-development partner for TG4001 so as to share the late stage development costs while retaining greater ownership rights than it had under its 2007 agreement with Roche.
?Although we are sorry to lose Roche as a corporate partner we remain committed to the product’s development,? stated Philippe Archinard, Chairman and CEO of Transgene. he added: ?Moreover, in this new context, the value of TG4001 for Transgene increases significantly and will of course increase even further if clinical data of the ongoing Phase IIb trial are positive.?
the company will host conference calls for analysts and investors in French and in English today, Tuesday, February 22nd. the conference call in French will begin at 6.30pm CET and the conference call in English will start at 7pm CET. the dial-in numbers for both are:
France Toll: ? +33 (0)1 70 99 42 77 UK Toll: +44 (0)20 7136 2052 US Toll: +1 212 444 0481 Access code:
4585473
a listen only, live webcast can be opened using the following link: thomson-webcast.net/uk/dispatching/?event_id=768fbc400ec14b7515b18c47bca55099&portal_id=3931a7cdcddca564ebb4cb3d2dad6baf&language=en
the webcast will be available for consultation on our website: transgene.fr
About TG4001
TG4001 HPV targeted immunotherapy is designed to target type 16 of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV16) and HPV16-related genotypes, known to be a high risk factor for the development of precancerous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and subsequently cervical cancer.
TG4001 is based on a non-propagative, highly attenuated vaccinia vector (MVA), which is engineered to express HPV16 antigens and an adjuvant. TG4001 is designed to have a two-pronged anti-viral approach: to alert the immune system specifically to HPV16-infected cells that have started to undergo precancerous transformation (cells presenting the HPV16 E6 and E7 antigens) and to further stimulate the infection-clearing activity of the immune system through an adjuvant (interleukin?2).
In Phase II clinical trials, TG4001 demonstrated safety and promising clinical responses in HPV16 positive women with CIN2/3. Activity of the drug was demonstrated in a Phase II trial that was conducted in France in 21 women with HPV16 CIN2/3. No serious side effects were observed. Sustainability of the response was assessed by an examination at Month 12 of the patients who did not undergo surgical excision of CIN lesions at Month 6. No CIN2/3 relapse nor any HPV16 persistence or re-infection was observed in these women.
TG4001 is currently in a Phase II study for TG4001 HPV targeted immunotherapy involving 200 patients with high-grade cervical dysplasia (CIN 2/3), providing valuable additional clinical data that is expected to strengthen the product’s profile and provide further proof of efficacy. Interim results from this study are expected by end 2011, beginning of 2012.
About HPV-mediated diseases
HPV infection is recognized as the necessary cause of precancerous cervical lesions and cervical cancers and is the most common sexually transmitted disease affecting about 400?million women worldwide. most infections are spontaneously eliminated in less than one year. In the remaining cases, persistent HPV infection can lead, after several years or decades, to precancerous lesions of the cervix – called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grades 2 and 3 (CIN 2/3) – and eventually to cervical cancer. In the United States and in Europe, some 580?000 new cases of CIN 2/3 are reported yearly, of which over 80% are linked to HPV16 and HPV16 related genotypes. the HPV16 genotype, along with HPV18, 31 and 33 genotypes, have the highest risk of transforming infected cervical cells into cancerous cells.
Due to the wider use of HPV testing, HPV infection is being diagnosed in an increasing number of women, but no anti-viral treatment is currently available. Surgical resection, currently the only therapeutic solution for precancerous lesions, is effective but presents medical complications and relapses. Therefore, a therapeutic vaccine to clear precancerous lesions and the associated HPV infection could be an effective, non-invasive approach for the prevention of cervical cancer.
About Transgene
Transgene, a member of the Institut M?rieux Group, is a publicly traded French biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of therapeutic vaccines and immunotherapeutic products in oncology and infectious diseases, and has five compounds in clinical development: TG4010 and JX-594/TG6006 having completed initial Phase II trials, TG4001 in Phase IIb trial, TG4040 in Phase II trial and TG4023 in Phase I trial. Transgene has concluded strategic agreements for the development of two of its immunotherapy products:
- an option agreement with Novartis for the development of TG4010 to treat various cancers.
- an in-licensing agreement with US-based Jennerex Biotherapeutics, Inc., to develop and market JX-594/TG6006, an oncolytic product.
Transgene has bio-manufacturing capacities for viral-based products. Additional information about Transgene is available on the internet at transgene.fr.
Cautionary note for Transgene regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements referring to the clinical testing and development and commercial potential of TG4001. Clinical testing and successful product development and commercialization depend on a variety of factors, including the timing and success of future patient enrolment, the risk of unanticipated adverse patient reactions, regulatory approval and the level of demand for the product by the medical community. Results from future studies with more data may show less favorable outcomes than prior studies, and there is no certainty that product candidates will ever demonstrate adequate therapeutic efficacy or achieve regulatory approval or commercial success. In addition, forward-looking statements regarding product development, testing and marketing costs are by the nature subject to uncertainties as a result of unforeseen difficulties and expenses which may arise, and future product development costs may exceed current expectations. For further information on the risks and uncertainties involved in the testing and development of Transgene’s product candidates, see Trangene’s Document de R?f?rence on file with the French Autorit? des march?s financiers on its website at amf-france.org and Transgene’s website at transgene.fr .
Soci?t? anonyme au capital de 72.470.137 ? ? R.C. Strasbourg B 317 540 581Boulevard Gonthier d’Andernach ? Parc d’Innovation – CS80166 ? 67405 ILLKIRCH GRAFFENSTADEN CEDEX (France)T?l?: + 33 3 88 27 91 00 Fax?: + 33 3 88 27 91 11
TransgenePhilippe Archinard, Chairman & CEO+33 (0)3 88279122orSt?phane Boissel, Vice Executive President & CFOPhone: +33 (0)3 88 27 91 02orElisabetta Castelli, Director IR+33 (0)1 44085505orMC ServicesRaimund Gabriel+49 89 210 228 30orShaun Brown+44 207 148 5998
Link from SPARK to OWL is in testing phase
A link is currently being tested to connect two University of Massachusetts internet tools used widely on campus.
SPARK, the learning management system used for on-campus courses and OWL, the online homework tool used at UMass, may integrate after being tested in several courses this spring and could be available on campus by next fall, according to staff at the Office of Information Technology.
The integration will be helpful for campus not only because it will allow students to log into both tools together and not separately, but it will provide instructors with many useful upgrades.
Instructors using both SPARK and OWL will be able to “use each tool to do what it does best rather than settling for a less than ideal approach or having to build additional features into a tool that duplicates existing capabilities in the other,” according to OIT.
Specifically, instructors will be able to transfer OWL grades into the SPARK grade book, as well as transferring all grades into SPIRE by means of the current SPARK to SPIRE connection. Instructors using SPARK will also be able to add the advanced homework and questioning capabilities of OWL to the normal quizzing and surveying features found in SPARK without managing two rosters, and can rosters students into their OWL course and manage add/drops in their OWL enrollment.
The link, being tested in approximately 10 courses, will get an evaluation by both instructors and students, and OIT’s Academic Computing division and the Center for Educational Software Development will determine if the link should be available across campus in the fall.
Holly Seabury can be reached at
Doctor doubts anti-cancer vaccine
there is no joke when it comes to cancer. The search for the cure is an unanimous effort. we would love to find a cure for cancer. Until then, cancer prevention vaccinations sound like a godsend. but what exactly are anti-cancers? Common HPV vaccination Gardasil is not exactly what we may have been led to believe.
in her lecture “Marketing the HPV Vaccine: Lessons for Consumers and Physicians” Sheila M. Rothman, Ph.D., discussed the relationship between professional medical associations and the pharmaceutical industry.
The lecture on Tuesday specifically addressed pharmaceutical company Merck’s aggressive marketing strategy for Gardasil, a vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Gardasil protects against two high-risk HPV types, 16 and 18, of which are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancer, as well as two lower-risk types.
The FDA approved Gardasil in June 2006 as a vaccine against HPV. it was ambiguously marketed as an anti-cancer vaccine.
Rothman cited Beth Herskovits’s article, “Gardasil Campaign Taps Public Fear of Cancer,” explaining why this marketing strategy was so successful. Herskovits wrote, “[The strategy] banked on the public’s fear of the ‘C’ word,” which caused normally low-risk patients to get vaccinated.
its message was that all females were at equal risk and that parents should vaccinate their daughters before the onset of sexual activity.
Merck’s marketing campaign ignored the disparities in cervical cancer rates versus other cancers, and that yearly pap smears would also reduce risk.
many criticize Merck for failing to target the highest risk subpopulations for HPV: African-American women in the South, Latino Women along the Texas-Mexico border and Caucasian women in Appalachia. These subpopulations often do not have access to adequate health care, and are unable to get annual pap smears.
with controversial slogans such as “1 less Life Affected by Cervical Cancer,” and “BE SMART, GET VACCINATED,” large portions of the population were vaccinated regardless of risk factor.
Rothman’s lecture gathered a large and engaging audience.
Kylie O’Donnell felt the lecture really hit close to home.
“I remember when the ads first came out, and my mother was saying ‘you have to get it,’” O’Donnell said.
Psychology major Helen Eshete believed that the outcome of the marketing was beneficial even though the “advertising was a little twitched.”
Dr. Rothman’s lecture was hosted by The Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility in collaboration with SMU’s Department of Anthropology.
Director of the Maguire Center Rita Kirk, Ph.D., explained that the center strives to promote student awareness of pertinent ethical issues. “Most people think of ethics as right and wrong, not as social responsibility,” Kirk said.
Sheila Rothman, Ph.D. is a professor of public health in the division of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University’s Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health.
Rothman is also Deputy Director of the Center for the Study of Society and Medicine at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
What are the chances of High-risk HPV turning into cervical cancer?
I am 17 and suspect that I do have HPV, though my last pap in July was normal – I have to go back next year to check if there's any abnormal cells. what are the chances of HPV turning into cervical cancer over time? Please help!
If you think you have HPV because you have visible sores, then relax, because you don't have the strain that is usually implicated in cervical cancer. There are two strains that cause some 70-90% of cervical cancers, and they do not have other external symptoms like the warts or sores. this DOES NOT mean that you could not be carrying both, of course, but you can at least feel better in knowing that your genital warts aren't going to give you cancer.
A PAP smear should be able to tell if you are carrying the bad strains, although you might voice this concern to your doctor to see if there are any more specific tests they can carry out.
You can check it out cancerssociety.org for more info..
go get another pap now, dont wait a year if you think you have it.