{"id":4197,"date":"2019-02-22T08:43:53","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T08:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=4197"},"modified":"2021-05-27T17:10:55","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T17:10:55","slug":"hpv-vaccine-12-advantages-and-disadvantages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/hpv-vaccine-12-advantages-and-disadvantages\/","title":{"rendered":"HPV Vaccine: 15 Advantages and Disadvantages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

HPV affects around 80 million people within the United States alone. The disease is able to spread via skin contact as well as sexual activity. While HPV will usually go away on its own even if left untreated, there are other types that can lead to various problems. These problems include cervical cancer as well as genital warts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HPV vaccine is a great way to protect your children from HPV-related diseases. They can also be used to protect adults from the disease if they were not vaccinated during their childhood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \u2014 better known as the CDC \u2014 have advised that preteens get their vaccine around the age of 11 to 12 years old. This will ensure that they are protected from HPV before they are exposed to it. You can get yourself vaccinated at any point prior to the age of 45.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The HPV vaccine can protect against precancerous cervical lesions [PRO]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From over 32,000 cases of cancer that are caused by HPV <\/a>annually, studies show that most of those cases could have been prevented by the HPV vaccine. The vaccine prevents these cases by supplying antibodies to your immune system which will protect you from becoming infected. This will prevent any occurrence of warts or cancers that are caused by HPV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are such things as pap smears that can be used to detect cervical cancer in women, but there isn\u2019t any way of testing for HPV prior to its development into a more severe issue. There\u2019s also no test available for men if they want to check for HPV or any associated cancers. Furthermore, HPV itself has no medical treatment. The best thing that doctors can do is cut off any tissue and cells to remove warts. Vaccination has managed to decrease the rates of HPV by 64%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. The vaccine can lead to a reduction in genital warts [PRO]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There was a recent study published in the PLOS One journal showing that Australian women between the age of 15 to 27 saw a 61% decrease in genital warts<\/a> following a vaccination program. This went from 4.33 in every 1,000 prior to the program to only 1.67 for every 1,000 following the program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The period following the program that was monitored ranged from July 2008 to June of 2012. The CDC has stated that around 360,000 people of both genders get genital warts in the United States annually. These warts are often benign but can spread through skin-to-skin contact which includes oral sex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is in contrast to other STDs that may require penetrative intercourse to be able to spread. Thus, it\u2019s important that children be vaccinated long before they have any sexual contact with others \u2014 such as prior to age 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. The vaccine may prevent throat cancer [PRO]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to CDC estimates, there are over 2,370 new cases of throat cancer caused by HPV for women, and as high as 9,356 for men \u2014 in the United States alone! If this trend continues on its current course, HPV will lead to more throat cancers than cervical cancers as early as the year 2020. The study stating this was published in 2011 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This increase in oral cancer caused by HPV is likely a result of the popularity of oral sex in teenagers who want to circumvent condom <\/a>usage while still engaging in sexual acts. It serves as a lesson that just because intercourse isn\u2019t penetrative, it can still lead to the transmission of disease. Nearly all of the throat cancers caused by HPV are done so by the HPV-16 strain, which is the strain targeted by the vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. The science suggests that the vaccine is safe [PRO]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In studies comprising of 30,000 participants, the alleged side effects of everything from fever to acute death was exactly the same in two groups. The first group was given the vaccine, while the second group was given a placebo<\/a>. 0.1% of the people in both groups died. As you can see, there is no correlation to increased risk of death by getting yourself vaccinated for HPV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever since it was initially approved, the HPV vaccine was administered to no less than 12 million patients \u2014 prominently females in their adolescence.  The CDC and FDA have gotten reports of 71 deaths from people who got the vaccine. Upon examining them, there was no apparent pattern in the means of death in these victims. If all of them had died from respiratory failure, then some could say that the vaccine caused it, but they all died of differing causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Long-lasting protection [PRO]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the greatest things about the HPV vaccine is the fact that it lasts for a very long time. Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine will protect you from the disease for no less than eight years. The amount of antibodies <\/a>in your immune system is far higher following your vaccination in comparison to natural infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a good sign as higher levels of antibodies means that the protection time period will be longer. Some experts have even predicted that the protection from the virus that this vaccine provides could last as long as 15 years or perhaps even life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, there is no need to receive booster shots for patients who have already been vaccinated for HPV. This is a good thing as some booster shots may cause mild side effects, especially in younger patients or those with a weaker immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. The recommended 3-shot series over a 6-month period is difficult for families to follow [CON]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Doctors have long speculated on why the HPV vaccination rate is so low in the US. Initially, they suspected that it was the result of the anti-vaccination campaign led by misinformed activists. That said, other doctors have begun to ponder whether it was due to the vaccination schedule. See, the schedule itself isn\u2019t exactly accommodating to those with busy lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the year 2013, only a third of patients aged 13 – 17 years completed all three doses of their HPV vaccination. It\u2019s truly a concern when more children start the vaccine <\/a>than those who finish it. Due to the spread-out nature of the vaccination, parents will often stop bringing their kids in after the second dose, preventing them from completing the process. Doctors will likely switch over to a two-dose system soon as the CDC is seeing results that even two doses are nearly as effective as three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Potential side effects and the vaccine\u2019s overall safety record are cause for concern [CON]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the HPV vaccine has been endorsed by bodies including the National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been some physicians who hesitate to recommend the vaccine to their patients due to the possible side effects. These range from pain and fever to more severe issues such as anaphylaxis<\/a>. Some vaccination recipients have also reported chronic pain or fatigue, as well as premature menopause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some doctors argue that there aren\u2019t enough long-term studies on the HPV vaccine to verify whether or not the vaccine is completely safe. While other vaccines contain samples of the virus, the HPV vaccine does not. Instead, it is made up of tiny proteins that resemble that found in HPV. When the vaccine is administered, the body will create antibodies in response to the protein. Some doctors wonder if this specific system may be what is causing the side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Losing international support [CON]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the year 2013, the Health Ministry of Japan officially retracted its support for the HPV <\/a>vaccination due to reports of severe side effects in females who received it. Other health ministries in the countries of India, Israel, France, and Spain have also recently expressed their concerns due to the adverse reactions that people were seeing after receiving the vaccine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is likely due to the fact that other nations are more stringent in their testing of vaccine side effects in comparison to the United States. Some have accused the United States Food and Drug Administration of being too lax with vaccination testing due to financial motivation, but these claims have not been backed up with any meaningful evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, while there have been some ministries that are withdrawing support, it\u2019s worth noting that there are no solid studies saying that the vaccine is unsafe as of yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. You Won\u2019t be Completely Risk-Free From Cancer [CON]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The HPV virus infects the skin and cells\nlining the body cavities. In many cases, it will cause zero symptoms and it\nwill be self-limiting, meaning that it will go away without any intervention\nnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The risk though is that it can encourage cells to divide more quickly than they normally would, which in turn can cause the appearance of aforementioned warts or <\/em>lead to the formation of cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while most of us dutifully get our other vaccinations under the impression that it will completely eliminate whatever type of illness it is that we\u2019re worried about getting, in the case of the HPV virus, there is no guarantee that you won\u2019t still be likely to develop cancer<\/a>. There are many other potential causes of cancer: anything that can cause a mutation in the cell, or anything that can cause the cells to proliferate at a faster-than-normal rate, may, in fact, cause the development of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. It\nWill Provide Peace of Mind [PRO]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The HPV virus <\/a>is quite unusual in that it doesn\u2019t cause any symptoms in most cases. This means that you won\u2019t know that you\u2019re affected, which can, in turn, mean that the condition is allowed to progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t had the vaccination, then you may spend your time wondering if it\u2019s possible that you may be suffering from HPV. However, if you have had the vaccine, then you can be safe in the knowledge that you are safe from it. This alone is enough of a good reason for many people, who like to know what is going on inside their bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. It\nWill Reduce the Likelihood of Verruca\u2019s [PRO]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already seen that getting the HPV\nvaccination can help to reduce the appearance of warts, by preventing the\nwanton spread of skin cells that can cause these blemishes. However, it might\nsurprise you to also learn that this is how verrucas can form as well.\nTherefore, getting the HPV vaccination can help to reduce your chances of\ngetting a verruca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verrucas are uncomfortable and painful lesions <\/a>that appear on the bottoms of the feet, and which can be highly contagious: especially if you regularly visit swimming baths. In addition, with being on the feet, verrucas can also make it uncomfortable and difficult to walk, as the legion presses on the bottom of the foot under your weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. It\nMay Not Be Necessary [CON]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, we saw that getting an HPV vaccine may not <\/em>completely eliminate the biggest threat associated with the condition: that being cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a similar manner, it is also useful to consider that there is a chance you may never need HPV. Of course, that\u2019s the case with any kind of vaccination: you may never come into contact with the virus or bacteria<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of HPV though, there is a strong\nchance you would contract the condition and never know anything about it. It is\nsuggested that 8 in 10 people will be infected by this virus at some point in\ntheir lives. And in fact, there are hundreds of thousands of different types of\nHPV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of these are harmless: and may never\ncause any unwanted symptoms. Many others will cause warts or similar that\nsimply go away on their own. This makes this a little less of a clear cut\ndecision than it is for a number of other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. It\nCan Be Painful [CON]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The fact of the matter is that any injection \u2013 vaccines included \u2013 can be painful. If you\u2019ve ever had to take your child for vaccines, then you\u2019ll know just how much they can end up shouting the roof down! Likewise, many adults will similarly be very put off by the idea of getting an injection<\/a>. And of course, this is before we have even discussed the many people who have serious phobias of injections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019re on the fence about the benefits, the fact that this injection can cause pain and discomfort may be enough to sway you against it. Just remember that an injection \u2013 while painful \u2013 will only cause discomfort for a few moments (and possibly leave a slight red mark for a while afterward). Conversely, the complications from HPV \u2013 such as cancer \u2013 are far more life-changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. It\nis Socially Responsible [PRO]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might not be particularly worried about\nthe HPV virus, but that does not mean that your friends and relatives are not.\nThe same goes for the strangers on the subway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Point being, that getting vaccines is an\nimportant way that we prevent the spread of disease and illness. And in fact,\nif enough people continue to get the HPV vaccine, it is possible that we might\neventually see the condition wiped out entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to all of the negative press surrounding vaccines right now \u2013 none of which has any scientific basis \u2013 many dangerous diseases are making a return that had previously been close to extinction. This is less of an issue when it comes to HPV as compared with more serious life-threatening illnesses, but it is certainly a mark in favor of getting vaccinated<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

15. It\nMay Not Be Effective Against Cervical Cancer [CON]<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cervical cancer<\/a> is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer affecting women. What might surprise you to learn is that nearly all forms of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, making this a very strong case for using the vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said though, it\u2019s worth noting that there is a chance that the HPV vaccination will not be effective against this form of cancer in particular \u2013 or at least not entirely effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue here is that cervical cancer takes\n10-20 years to develop. Therefore, we can\u2019t yet say with any certainty whether\nit works. We have reason to think that it might, and the Cochrane review\npublished in May 2018 does show promising signs, but we do not yet know for\nsure. <\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>