War On Warts » genital warts

CDC Recommends Boys Receive HPV Vaccine

WarOnWarts — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:41:45 +0000

Coverage of the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to expand its recommendation for the HPV vaccine to boys and young men aged 11-21 was widespread, appearing on the three network newscasts, and in national newspapers. The story took up over ten percent of news time. ABC World News (10/25, story 3, 0:30, Sawyer) reported that the committee “recommended boys ages 11 and 12 and young men 13 to 21 be vaccinated. Not just girls, who, as we know, are at risk for cervical cancer.”

On NBC Nightly News (10/25, lead story, 3:00, Williams), NBC’s Chief Medical Editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman said that “One of the reasons the parents have backed away from this vaccine in the past is that because it combines three shots spaced out over several months, and sometimes that means compliance is not so good, and insurance companies have backed away from covering it, but the hope today is that the CDC has recommended it, it will be one step forward getting our kids inoculated and having insurance coverage so parents don’t have to bear the cost.”

The CBS Evening News (10/25, story 6, 2:15, Pelley) reported that “experts argue that kids should get” the vaccine early, “before sexual activity and before they develop these diseases like cancer and genital warts. Now for the future, another important thing is that the earlier this vaccine is given, the better the protection, the better the immune response and the better they’re going to be protected against these diseases in the future.”

FDA Approves HPV Vaccine for MEN!!!

WarOnWarts — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:02:50 +0000

Gardasil (human papillomavirus vaccine), the vaccine that can prevent most cases of cervical cancer in girls, has won the FDA’s blessing as a vaccine to prevent anal cancer, a huge victory for men!

The FDA’s approval for Gardasil as an anal cancer vaccine opens the way for the medication’s maker, Merck and Co. Inc., to market the vaccine to boys and young men between the ages of nine and 26 – an option that will be most meaningful for men who have sex with men, but valuable to all. Nobody likes getting HPV on their penis. It really can devastate many boys and men. When the HPV ends up on their anal area – the risk of anal cancer is high. Although this is most commonly seen in homosexual men, it is not infrequent for heterosexual men to be at risk. It is easy to imagine how HPV can start on the shaft, and with a scratch here, and an itch there – end up on the back side.

This is a great win for men – and we hope that the approval by the FDA will quickly translate to coverage amongst insurance companies to make the vaccine accessible quickly to this new population.

Do warts go away?

Dr. A — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:07:57 +0000

Getting treatment for genital warts or HPV is important. Doctors can burn, freeze, cut or scrape away unsightly bumps. The virus associated with HPV stays in the body like other viruses do. Just like cold sores a new eruption can happen without a repeat exposure. Someone who doesn’t have visible warts can still give someone else the virus during unprotected sexual contact. While antibiotics can treat some sexual transmitted infections getting treated for genital warts does not constitute a cure. Some cases of warts don’t progress at all. Others grow to be big, painful and even disfiguring.

Most patients are happy to have the growths treated and there partners or new prospective partners wont see the warts. A responsible adult should use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections, HIV and warts.

While we can make the warts disappear there is no guarantee the warts won’t have the last laugh.