Public Health Problem
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been a persisting public health problem throughout the world. While some STIs, like gonorrhea, are curable, other STIs like human papillomavirus (HPV), have no cure and can lead to deadly consequences. Unfortunately, HPV is considered to be the most common type of sexually transmitted infection. Like all STIs, HPV spread through sexual contact with an infected person, whether it be vaginal, anal, or oral sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 79 million Americans infected with HPV at a time and about 14 million new cases arise every year (“Human Papillomavirus (HPV)”). This means that about one in four people are infected with some type
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These guidelines suggest and explain several different possible approaches towards curing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, including cryotherapy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) (“WHO Guidelines for Screening and Treatment of Precancerous Lesions for Cervical Cancer Prevention,” 2013). Depending on the size and location of the CIN, cryotherapy can be an effective way of curing CIN. This procedure involves freezing abnormal cervical tissues with carbon dioxide. By freezing the targeted tissues, the abnormal cells are destroyed. It has been found to be about 80% effective in curing CIN (Sauvaget, Muwonge, & Sankaranarayanan, 2013). Alternatively, the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) can be used to destroy abnormal cells as well. In this procedure, a loop of thin wire with a low, electric current is used to cut out tissue containing abnormal cells in the cervix. Once removed, the tissue can be further examined to determine the severity of the disease. While it is possible for abnormal cells to develop again, it is unlikely, making LEEP a highly effective way of curing CIN (Rema, Suchetha, Thara, Fayette, Wesley, & Sankaranarayanan, 2008). These two procedures have been found to be equally effective when treating CIN, making them both increasingly desirable procedures for CIN …show more content…
Between 2007 and 2009, an HPV vaccine program was introduced in Australia. Three years after the introduction, Brotheron, Fridman, May, Chappell, Saville, and Gertig (2011) examined how these vaccines affected women’s cervical health. It was found that after the vaccine program was introduced, there was a lower number of reports of women having high-grade cervical abnormalities. While this was only the first report, it shows great promise that implementing a program for the HPV vaccine will have a positive effect on women’s health. The lower the chances are for people to contract the HPV virus means that there’s a lower chance that people will develop cervical cancer and other
In June 2006, Gardasil, a Human Papillomavirus vaccine made by Merck & Co., was licensed for use and brought to the market (“HPV Vaccine”). Gardasil, which is given into a series of three injections, targets the main types of HPV. The types targeted are HPV 6, HPV 11, HPV 16 and HPV 18, which cause ninety percent of the genital warts and are the leading causes of cervical cancer (“Cervical Cancer Symptoms, Causes, Treatments”). Brought to the attention by researchers “combined, those strains affect an estimated 3 million women in the U.S” (“HPV Vaccine”). Since HPV is so common in the United States, the makers of Gardasil are trying to get a law approved that will make the shots mandatory. In 2006,
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is very common throughout the United States and worldwide (World Health Organization (WHO), 2016). There are over 100 different forms of the virus with 13 of these types being capable of causing cancer (WHO, 2016). HPV can lead to the development of serious health problems. Theses health problems are especially an issue for adolescent women due to the highly increasing STD rates among this age group (Kostas-Polston, Johnson-Mallard & Berman, 2012). There is a vaccine for many of the common types of HPV, however, many parents are refusing to vaccinate their daughters for various reasons. With the rising cases of STDs, less birth
HPV is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 percent of all sexually active men and women will get it at some point in their lives, and 20 million already have it. A vaccine is available that prevents 70% of cervical cancers that arise from sexual intercourse. The human papillomavirus is unknowingly common and is diagnosed in 10,000 women a year, causing 4,000 deaths per year (“HPV Question and Answers”). If we take the responsibility to vaccinate young girls and boys, to be safe, we can eliminate many unnecessary deaths. This vaccine is a great discovery that should be put to good use, the HPV vaccine should be mandated in young teens everywhere.
Current evidence-based practice involves providing vaccinations as they protect the child for a lifetime (Joanna Briggs Foundation, 2009). Secondary prevention involves early screening for cervical cancer related to the HPV infection. Early screening for cervical cancer is crucial as cervical with women over the age of 30 according to evidence-based practice as the rates of HPV are higher (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2011). Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing the effects of HPV. For example, mental health programs assist the individual with coping with the diagnosis of HPV. These levels of prevention are crucial for assisting those with the diagnosis of HPV and the community health nurse has an important role in educating these individuals to prevent further health
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
Gardasil has been tested in thousands of women and found to be nearly 100% effective in protecting against diseases caused by the four HPV types. Side effects are very uncommon and the occurrence is about 1%. Not only are HPV vaccinations safe, and effective but in today’s society it seems that they have become necessary. “An estimated 493,000 cervical cancer cases occur each year with 274,000 deaths. More than 80% of cervical cancer deaths worldwide occur in developing countries. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women”. If there is a cure of this kind of epidemic, it is evident that it is necessary.
Human Papilloma Virus, more commonly known as HPV, is a sexually transmitted virus. It is spread from skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, typically during sexual encounters. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. According to the Immunize Action Coalition, “most sexually active American men and woman will contract at least one type of HPV virus during their lifetime” (A Parent 's Guide to Preteen, 2013, p. 1). To put the numbers in perspective, it infects an estimated seventy-nine million Americans today with approximately fourteen million more people being affected additionally each year (Human
Gardasil is a vaccine used to prevent certain strains of Human Papillomavirus, or HPV; which may lead to cervical cancer. Although Gardasil has been available since 2006; there is concern about its validity as a prophylactic measure against HPV. With no long term research on the efficacy of this vaccination and the growing list of side effects; there
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are over 100 types of HPV, but only 40 types affect the genital area and can cause genital warts and cervical cancer in women (“Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine”). In 2011 in the United States, 12,109 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Of those, 4,092 women died (“Cervical Cancer Statistics”). HPV is not only contracted from sexual intercourse, but also from skin to skin contact, including oral sex. The STI affects males and females involved in both homosexual and heterosexual sexual activities. Over 70 percent of sexually active individuals contract and carry HPV before the age of 80. In order to combat HPV two different brands of HPV vaccination – Gardasil and Cervarix – were created. Both include a vaccination plan of three shots over the course of six months. Gardasil was created by Merck & Co., and was licensed by the FDA in June 2006. The vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which lead to cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts. The FDA later approved Cervarix, created by GlaxoSmithKline, in 2009, which only protects against HPV types 16 and 18 (“Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine”). Originally, Gardasil was only approved for females, but three years after the release, the vaccine was approved
Cervical cancer is a type of abnormal and malignant cell growth on the cervix (birth canal), which causes the common death for American Women. Infected by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through sexual contact is the main contributor to cervical cancer. According to American Cancer Society’s (ACS) (2017) estimation, around 12,820 people will newly have cervical cancer and about 4,210 people will die from that in 2017. Therefore, it is urgent to decrease the rate of cervical cancer at women. A three-shot Gardasil series vaccine approved by the FDA for girls started to prevent cervical cancer in 2006. There are more than forty types of HPVs and the majority
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Treatment and Care. (2017, January 03). Retrieved October 07, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/treatment.htm
In recent years, medical experts and public health advocates have increasingly become concerned about the growing underutilization of the HPV vaccination in the United States. While most agree that the issue deserves attentions, consensus dissolves around how to respond to the problem. This literature review examines the background of HPV, several approaches to ensuring that HPV vaccinations utilized. This paper also compares effectiveness, for females ages 12-26, of strategies and of the only vaccination approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long term prevention of HPV, as well as consequent diseases/illnesses.
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).
During the lifetime of the human race, comes a way to reproduce humans. Growing families from different race and different life styles.
In further understanding what sexually transmitted infections are one must know exactly what the different types of sexually transmitted infections. In this case, the World Health Organization and Wikipedia.com clearly define each type of infection: