Human Papillomavirus Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease that infects over twenty million Americans each year (Vanslyke, Baum, Plaza, Otero, Wheeler, Helizter, 2008, P. 584). Many of these people do not realize that they are infected because they do not show any symptoms. Even though HPV has been talked about for decades, it is only until recent years that the topic has become part of mainstream women’s health issues. Not only that, many of these people are women who do not understand the importance of testing for HPV. HPV is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer among women. This is especially true for women in the Hispanic community. Hispanics have higher instances of cervical cancer and mortality …show more content…
Others were concerned with the physical discomfort of a pap smear and possible embarrassment from a pelvic exam. Many expressed that they do not want HPV testing without their knowledge. They would feel as if they were being taking advantage of. By these women not wanting to be tested, it makes it hard for physicians to be able to care for them. Physicians would not be able to have a patient-centered communication which would allow the doctor to treat their patients. Lastly, vaccines are another issue for the Hispanic community. Since many of the Hispanic cultures can’t afford healthcare, many of them are worried about the costs associated with getting the vaccine. Some, who have insurance, were worried if the insurance companies would even cover the costs of the vaccination because it’s a new vaccine. Not only that, they were worried that the vaccine would present access barrier for many in the Hispanic community (Luque et al. 2010, P.96). Many of these individuals do not have transportation or the time to make frequent trips to the doctor’s office for multiple rounds for the vaccine shots. The vaccine doesn’t have easy access like the flu shot where patients can get a shot at the local drug store and not have to pay an office visit. Many are bothered that it would encourage young girls to want to have sex at an earlier age (Luque et al. 2010, P. 95). The fear is that once young girls
Human-papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing has been proposed as an alternative to primary cervical cancer screening using cytological testing. Review of the evidence shows that available data are conflicting for
Cervical cancer has an effect on women not only in a health manner. The emotional cost from HPV is a further burden as it may include fear of cervical cancer, apprehension, and the stigma associated with a sexually transmitted infection. HPV is so common that drug companies long sought to develop a vaccine against it.
HPV is so common in the United States that nearly all men and women will contract the virus at some point during life (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). In the United States, in 2008, it is reported that 3.2 million, or one in four adolescent women, ages 14 to 19 have had or have an STD (Kostas-Polston et al., 2012). The rate of HPV cases has only increased since 2008. The prevalence of a genital infection with any HPV type was 42.5% among United States during 2013–2014 (CDC, 2017). The incidence of HPV in the United States is about 14 million people each year.
Instead, if people saw how serious this virus is, then they may be able to more clearly see how beneficial the vaccinations are. HPV is so common and prevalent in today’s society that it will infect 75% – 80% of both males and females throughout their lifetime. Those infected with specific
The incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in my local community Lockport, Illinois is one out of every five people have HPV and due to the vaccinations to prevent HPV, Illinois ranks 48th among the United States for incidences of HPV (Manchir, 2013). HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that is transmitted through sexual contact. HPV is transmitted during vaginal, oral, or anal sex and on rare occasions, through birth during delivery (Illinois Department of Public Health [IDPH], 2013). Surprisingly, 50 percent of men and women that are active sexually will acquire HPV during their lifetime! HPV has affected 20 million Americans and an astounding, six million additional people will become infected every year (Illinois Department of Public Health [IDPH], 2013). Although Lockport Illinois has a lower amount of people with HPV, as a public health nurse, I realize this is an issue that needs to be addressed in my local community. Awareness is the key to prevention. Teenagers, parents, and all adults need to
Prophylactic vaccination against high risk human papilloma virus 16 and 18 represents an exciting means of protection against HPV related malignancy. However, this strategy alone, even if there is a level of cross protection against other oncogenic viruses, cannot completely prevent cervical cancer. In some countries cervical screening programs have reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by up to 80 percent although this decline has now reached a plateau with current cancers occurring in patients who have failed to attend for screening or where the sensitivity of the tests have proved inadequate. Cervical screening is inevitably associated with significant anxiety for the many women who require investigation and treatment following abnormal cervical cytology. However, it is vitally important to stress the need for continued cervical screening to complement vaccination in order to optimize prevention in vaccines and prevent cervical cancer in older women where the value of vaccination is currently unclear. It is likely that vaccination will ultimately change the natural history of HPV disease by reducing the influence of the highly oncogenic types HPV 16 and 18. In the long term this is likely to lead to an increase in recommended screening intervals. HPV vaccination may also reduce
There are many reasons that this vaccine could be beneficial, not only to our society, but to many of the underdeveloped nations of the world in which HPV and cervical cancer are still considered to be an epidemic (MacDonald). It could save the young women who get the vaccine from the future trouble of dealing with a highly invasive cancer, as well as protect them from the embarrassment that comes with contracting a venereal disease. However, the controversy of this topic is not in whether the vaccine is a benefit to women’s health, which many, including the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control, believe that it is; but in the debate over whether it is the parents’ right, not the states’, to choose what is best for their child. The question of mandatory vaccination raises medical, moral and legal issues that are not easily reconcilable (Lovinger). Many parents are opposed to the mandating of this vaccine for three reasons. First, HPV is not spread by casual contact, as are the other diseases that children are vaccinated against for the safety of the classrooms. Second, the vaccine has only been approved for a short while, thus not all of the side effects and long term effects are known. Last, parents are afraid that by getting their child vaccinated against a sexually transmitted disease they will be encouraging promiscuity. Gardasil would become the first vaccine mandated for school-aged children that targets a
While personal choice concerns to those who oppose the HPV vaccine, promiscuity concerns them the most. Many parents, women support groups, and religious leaders worry that mandating the vaccine will give teenagers one less reason to abstain from sexual activities. The
Almost all cervical carcinomas are caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer can be a life-threating disease. However, over recent years the occurrence of cervical cancer has declined as well as the chance of dying from it. A huge contributing factor to this decline is the importance of a regular pap smear. A pap smear can find cervical pre-cancer before it turns into cancer. Recently, a vaccine for HPV, has been on the market, which provides close to a 100% protection against pre-cancer and general warts. HPV and cervical cancer are two disease that are closely related. However, each disease effects not only similar populations, but also different populations, as well as having its own signs and symptoms, detection procedures,
Numerous studies have been conducted on various facets of human papillomavirus (HPV) in African-American females. These include focusing on the etiology of HPV, predicting its occurrence, describing the health status of those affected, and controlling its occurrence. Per contra, the number of African-American women infected with HPV is substantially higher than other populations such as Caucasians, American Indian/ Alaska Natives, and Asian/ Pacific Islanders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2012) suggests that the rate of African-American females infected with HPV-associated cancer, cervical carcinoma, is 9.9 per 10,000 people, with a 95% Cl [9.7, 10.2]. To understand the extent of HPV infection in African-American
A study by Gerend et al. addresses the common perceived barriers regarding the HPV vaccine, including: adverse effects from the vaccine (55%), vaccine safety (46%), not enough knowledge about the vaccine (37%), not enough research (36%), have not gotten around to getting the vaccine yet, but plan to (36%), and more. The authors suggest that tailoring the conditions in which the participants receive their information regarding the HPV vaccine would increase the likelihood that they would be more willing to accept and adhere to the three-dose vaccine regimen.6
It is estimated that 79 million Americans are infected with the virus with 14 million diagnosed each year. For the collection of subjective data, I will ask if the patient is allergy to any medications or foods. Then, I will verbalize to the family that I need them to step outside the room. During this times, I will ask the patient about being sexually active, use of protection during intercourse, history of sexually transmitted diseases and number of partners. Also, I will ask her about her view of the HPV vaccine. Once the family return to the room, I will verbalize the benefits of the vaccine. For instance, the virus has been connected with cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, and oropharyngeal. Meanwhile, the detection of these cancers can take several years to be detected as its manifestations on the body takes years to be demonstrated. Consequently, interventions to treat the condition may be too late placing patient’s health status at risk (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016; Cash & Glass,
If I told you that Human papillomavirus (HPV) was the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and if left untreated could cause 70% of cervical cancers, would you want children to be required to get the vaccine? (Sourced) HPV vaccine is very controversial, not only because it is starting to be mandatory in the U.S but also because it is only mandatory for female children to get it. Researchers claim that the cancers associated with HPV cost $3.7 billion in 2003 alone. (Source) Cervical cancer is the second most lethal cancer to all women but should it be mandatory for only one gender even though men can carry it as well? (source)
Human Papillomavirus(HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) around 20 million people are infected with HPV and additional 6.2 million people are newly infected every year. According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2003-2004 among sexually active women (57% of 14 to 19 years and 97% of 20 to 59 years) HPV was highest prevalent in youngest age group (40% of 14-19 years and 50% of 20-24 years). Infection rates decrease after age of 24 years. There are more than 100 types of HPV viruses out of which 40 cause genital infections. Out of
Among the many arguments for mandatory HPV vaccination, the foremost is that it is an important medical achievement and a major public health milestone. This vaccine has proven to be one-hundred percent effective in preventing the 4 HPV strains that are responsible for seventy percent of cervical cancers and ninety percent of genital warts. In addition, no serious side effects have been identified. Because this vaccine is a preventive measure, administration before onset of sexual activity is ideal; however, even females who have been sexually active can still benefit from this vaccination (Perkins et al., 2010). Nationally and internationally, the HPV vaccine will significantly reduce disease burden by reducing monetary and psychological costs of invasive procedures that remove precancerous and cancerous lesions. By combining vaccination with routine Pap smear screening, these public health efforts have the remarkable opportunity to eradicate cervical cancer (Ramet et al., 2011).