The HPV Vaccines and Cervical Screening
With the introduction of the first HPV vaccine--the first vaccine ever specifically to prevent a specific cancer--the dream of eliminating cervical cancer deaths is increasingly within reach. Cervical cancer is the only type of cancer for which there is one, specific cause: “high-risk” strains of human papilloma virus, or HPV. HPV is a very common, sexually transmitted virus that normally doesn’t cause any known health problems. But in some women, the infection stays active long enough to cause abnormal cells to form, which can then develop into cervical cancer. With the HPV test, we can identify which women are at risk and need to be watched. And now, the vaccine allows many HPV infections to be prevented in the first place. For the complete article, click here.