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blumk · 08-20-2008, 12:41 PM

is there a hpv vaccine that protects against cancer?

Pickle Eyes · 08-20-2008, 05:17 PM

The Gardasil vaccination protects against 4 strains of HPV that can affect the genitals. It protects against 2 strains of low risk HPV which can cause genital warts and it protects against 2 strains of high risk HPV which can lead to cancer if undetected and/or unchecked.

There are more than 20 strains of HPV that can cause genital problems (including mouth/throat, anus, penis).

newpatient485 · 08-21-2008, 01:50 PM

I think it's also important to note that HPV doesn't mean you're automatically going to get cancer. In fact in most cases, you won't. I think the marketing of Gardasil has led a lot of people to believe that if you have HPV you WILL get cancer, which just isn't true.

Pickle Eyes · 08-21-2008, 04:53 PM

Yep, to what newpatient said. I think the commericals also lead people to think that the vaccine prevents ALL cervical cancer and that isn't true. The 2 strains of high risk HPV that are in the vaccine cause about 80% of cervical cancer, so the other strains cause the other 20%.

The vaccine helps reduce the chances of the devistation that can happen because of HPV, but it isn't a guarantee.

:waves to new patient:

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