by Rachel Burt, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at Roswell OB/GYN ……………………………..
Yes – and your son should get vaccinated, too! HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer. There are 2 HPV vaccines currently approved:
Gardasil® and Cervarix®. Both vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections with HPV types 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause about 70 percent of cervical and anal cancers. Gardasil also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90 percent of genital warts. It is recommended to get your sons and daughters vaccinated prior to ever having sexual contact. Insurance typically covers the vaccine up to age 26. Although the vaccine will help to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, it does not prevent all HPV infections. Women should still follow up with routine pap smears and use condoms to reduce the risk of transmission. The National Cancer Institute has an excellent web page dedicated to the HPV vaccine. Please see the link below:
Any questions, please contact us at 770-751-3600.
