Whether you agree with the new HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines or not, one has to be fair about the news that comes out about it. Last week, it was widely reported that a 14-year-old British girl died after receiving the Cervarix vaccine. This vaccine is being given to young women and adolescent girls to reduce the risk of contracting some types of HPV, which are known to cause a significant number of cervical cancer cases.
Sadly, Natalie, the 14-year-old, became ill shortly after being vaccinated and she died not long after. Of course, it wasn’t hard not to blame the vaccine …read more

There has been plenty of talk about parents not wanting to give their teenage girls Gardasil, which is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as protection against cervical cancer and genital warts caused by HPV, or the human papillomavirus. Up until now, most parents worried about the moral issue of giving their 11 and 12-year old daughters a vaccine that has to do with sex.

However, many parents are holding back with the vaccine, not because of moral issues, but because they fear what the drug’s side effects will be. The drug is, after all, new, and they …read more

…dies of oral cancer. This is how the website Fight Oral Cancer begins its introduction.
Oral cancers, of the tongue, gums, lips or mouth, are in the rise around the world. And the sad fact is that most oral cancers are preventable. According to the American Cancer Society ,
Most oral cancers could be prevented if people did not use tobacco or drink heavily.
Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol use sharply reduce any risk of developing oral cancer, even after many years of use. Many oral cancers may be found early by a combination of routine screening examinations by a …read more

One of the most hotly debated issues when it comes to children is if boys should be circumcised. Unless you do it for religious reasons, the issue can start an argument in no time at all. There are vehement arguments for both sides of the issue and the problem is, it doesn’t seem like anyone is right or wrong because both sides can find studies to back up their beliefs.
A new study out has weighed in on the benefits of circumcision – the potential that it can help prevent the spread of the human papillomavirus (HPV). A few forms of …read more

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, but few people know they have it and many have no symptoms. It’s important to detect because certain types of HPV can cause cancer.
According to the CDC, HPV may be low-risk (wart-causing) or high-risk (cancer-causing). Some good news is that in 90% of cases, your immune system might clear both low- and high-risk HPV infections naturally within two years. However, discussing testing with your doctor is still a good idea. If a high-risk HPV infection isn’t defeated by the immune system, it may stay around for many years and turn …read more

Please take our Gardasil poll

Have you ever heard that saying that polite people never discuss religion or politics at a dinner party? I think we need to add Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, to that list.
Some people are so strongly for the vaccine for girls as young as 9 years old, while others say “over my dead body.” The arguments fly fast and furious when it comes to the safety, efficacy, and ethical issues of giving Gardasil to our children.
You know, I have no idea what side of the fence I’m on. A couple of years ago, I was hired by …read more

HPV or Human Papillomavirus is a common cause of sexually transmitted diseases where humans are exposed to and will fall ill when colonized by the virus from sexual relations.
Previous studies have identified that HPV may have serious consequences that include some types of cancer: cervical, anus, vulva, penis, oropharyngeal (the middle part of the throat behind the mouth including the back of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat).
Now, according to Universidad de Granada study, HPV may cause bladder cancer:
The researchers from Granada have focused their study on bladder cancer and have found some …read more

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers found conclusive evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) causes some throat cancers in both men and women.
Study participants who reported having more than six oral sex partners in their lifetime were 8.6 times more likely to develop the HPV-linked cancer.
Oral HPV infection has been found to be the strongest risk factor for throat cancer, as reported by the researchers in the May 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Guess how you’ll get HPV down your throat? By having multiple oral sex partners!
According to the study’s investigators:
Oral sex, including both fellatio and cunnilingus, is …read more