Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is associated with abnormal pap smears, cervical dysplasia, and cervical cancer.  Certain strains of the virus are more likely to cause cervical cancer than others; however, a person is likely to aquire numerous strains of HPV, and the more sexual partners one is exposed to (directly or indirectly) the more HPV strains to which one is exposed.   At least 60% of both men and women have been exposed to and/or are carriers of HPV; that percentage increases signficantly with direct or indirect exposure to additional sexual partners (past or present).  

HPV can express itself within weeks to months of exposure, or may remain dormant and not cause problems until decades later.  Once a man or woman has the virus they have it for life.  It may not ever cause problems, but screening a woman with a pap smear is critical for cancer protection.   HPV is almost the entire reason yearly pap smears are done on women.  There are very few other causes of cervical dysplasia or cancer.  Cervical dysplasia (or abnormal pap smears) is a very common condition, an issue I dealt with daily when I practiced gynecology.  (With men, HPV is usually not a problem, but may be expressed by genital warts or penile cancer, and a good phyical exam is usually enough to detect this early.)

Cervical dysplasia (pre-cancerous condition of the cervix) and cervical cancer are conditions that cause much distress to the women who are diagnosed with this condition, and prior to the vaccine there were only a few things one could do to influence the expression of the virus.  We know that oxidative stress (emotional and physical stress, cigarette smoking, and a depressed immune system) increases the liklihood of HPV expressing itself and causing cervical cell abnormalities.  Alternatively, a healhty immune system, decreased stress, and antioxidant vitamins are associated with a decreased risk of HPV expression.  (In my practice I saw complete regression of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma-in-situ using high dose grape seed extract, in combination with a full-range vitamin and mineral supplement program.  At the same time, I treated the disease according to standard of practice, …e.g., LEEP cone biopsy, etc.)

The quadrivalent human papilloma virus (HPV4) vaccine has been widely available for about a year or so, and about 25% of girls aged 13 to 17 have received at least one of the three doses necessary to immunize against this common virus.   The time to immunize girls against the virus is BEFORE any sexual activity begins.  Therefore, it would be prudent to vaccinate a girl between the ages of 11 and 12.  This is not a tacit endorsement of teen sexual activity, but a preventative health issue.  (Once a woman has contracted HPV, which could occur even with first sexual contact, the time for vaccination is past.)

Cervical cell abnormalities can occur at any age.  I am in favor of this vaccine, as actively protecting women to decrease the risk of a women contracting cervical dysplasia and cancer can only be a good thing.