Most US women in the dark about HPV

[LongIsland]

Reuters
11/13/06

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061114/...most_survey_dc

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Awareness about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its link to cervical cancer, is relatively low among American women, according to a survey of 3,076 women 18 to 75 years of age.

Only 40 percent of women responding to the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey had ever heard about HPV and, of those, less than 20 percent knew that HPV could sometimes lead to cervical cancer.


Uh, shouldn't that be obvious?

According to the CDC, almost all cases of HPV clear on their own and HPV rarely leads to cervical cancer, so of course most women have never heard of HPV, let alone were aware it can lead to cervical cancer.

[LongIsland]

REPORT TO CONGRESS
Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection
http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/2004HPV%20Report.pdf


"Cervical cancer is an uncommon consequence of HPV infection in women, especially if they are screened for cancer regularly with Pap tests and have appropriate follow-up of abnormalities."

"Most infections cause no clinical problems and go away on their own without treatment."

[RiverSky]

I knew someone was making money off of all those HPV/Cervical Cancer commercials.... Public service announcement, my ass....

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

I knew someone was making money off of all those HPV/Cervical Cancer commercials.... Public service announcement, my ass....

Those commercials aren't PSA's, the "Tell Someone" commercials come from Merck, maker of Gardasil.

[LongIsland]

From the Reuter's article:

Summing up, Tiro said "we need to increase women's knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer before chances of them becoming infected so that they can protect themselves, because cervical cancer is one our greatest success stories from a screening perspective in that women do have options to prevent and detect cervical cancer early."


But prior to the licensure of Gardasil, women didn't need to tell someone. Now that a vaccine has been licensed, let's use the "screening perspective" in order to market the vaccine.

[amyjeans]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Those commercials aren't PSA's, the "Tell Someone" commercials come from Merck, maker of Gardasil.

I don't know whether to be happy or sad about that.
Funny, at my paps, I was never told what they were looking for! Talk about a sheeple in the truest sense!
(not anymore)

[suschi]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Reuters
11/13/06

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061114/...most_survey_dc

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Awareness about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its link to cervical cancer, is relatively low among American women, according to a survey of 3,076 women 18 to 75 years of age.

Only 40 percent of women responding to the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey had ever heard about HPV and, of those, less than 20 percent knew that HPV could sometimes lead to cervical cancer.


Uh, shouldn't that be obvious?

According to the CDC, almost all cases of HPV clear on their own and HPV rarely leads to cervical cancer, so of course most women have never heard of HPV, let alone were aware it can lead to cervical cancer.

There was no need for women to know about this, until there was a magic bullet available via vaccine. Now everyone must know.

Ackkkkkk

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by suschi

There was no need for women to know about this, until there was a magic bullet available via vaccine. Now everyone must know.

Ackkkkkk

National pap smear campaigns have been going on for decades and THAT is what has caused the decrease in cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

Bottom line: there is no national medical crisis going on here for which a vaccine should be universally recommended.

[prettypixels]

I'd be willing to bet that most of those women HAVE heard of genital warts, but have no idea that it is caused by HPV or that HPV is related to cervical cancer. Wasn't covered in the sex ed classes I was given, and these days, who gets sex ed anymore? It's all absintence only (lack-of)education (Thanks Bush!).

The only thing I was taught in school regarding genital warts was that you get, yanno, warts. It was put in the same category as herpes, ie: untreatable, you have it forever, a blight upon you for being such a sl*t! Which is not true in the majority of HPV cases, but apparently it's more important to make women feel sexually dirty and bad than it is to have them fully informed.

The only other thing I'd say is that when I had an abnormal pap result, NO ONE told me... "Well, most cases of HPV clear on their own." They treated me like I was a strung out streetwalker. This is not true of only my doctor, two of my best friends had the same exact experience across the country. So if there were a real way to actually empower women with this information so they can tell their prudish doctors to shut the heck up, I'd be all for it!

They also don't tell you, btw, that cryotherapy can affect your cervix when you give birth later in life. So much they don't tell you about this! Makes me...

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

So if there were a real way to actually empower women with this information so they can tell their prudish doctors to shut the heck up, I'd be all for it!

I here ya there, but Merck, the CDC and doctors are aggressively promoting Gardasil as a cancer vaccine. Therefore, for most girls/women, learning that most cases of HPV clear up on it's own is going to get lost in the shuffle and "CANCER" will be embedded in their brain.

[spero]

Yeah, most women are in the dark about the so-called "cancer vaccine" (Gardasil), too - thanks to Merck.

I just read an old thread here where a poster was singing the praises of the HPV vax ... "It protects against the four strains of HPV that cause almost 100% of cervical cancers!"

Wrong, wrong, WRONG. The vax targets TWO strains of HPV that cause about 70% of cervical cancers. The other two HPV strains tageted by the vax cause about 90% of the cases of genital warts.

Getting the facts straight = A truly informed decision.

[angelpie545]

Arrrggg. Males spread HPV too, so I don't know why they are so hung-ho pushing it all on women. I find it a bit sexist, but then again, that's why they are marketing it as an anti-cancer vaccine, to get women to jump on the bandwagon. The thing is, it's NOT an anti-cancer vax. NOT NOT NOT! It gets me so heated when I see those commercials. Yes, it's important to know about HPV and to learn about how regular pap smears could save your life. That's fine, but spreading a message that a vaccine that only protects against a few strains of the disease will prevent cervical cancer is extremely misleading. There are other causes of cervical cancer, so getting a vax isn't a guarantee that you won't get cervical cancer.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Arrrggg. Males spread HPV too, so I don't know why they are so hung-ho pushing it all on women.

It wil be indicated for males within two years.


I'm watching a new Gardasil commercial as we speak . . . now they have a new strategy . . . it's the "One Less" campaign.

[AikeaGuinea]

I don't really have an opinion yet about the HPV vaccine, but I do think it's nice that, whether people get the shot or not, it has raised awareness about HPV and the problems that can come of it.

[angelpie545]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

It wil be indicated for males within two years.


I'm watching a new Gardasil commercial as we speak . . . now they have a new strategy . . . it's the "One Less" campaign.

Yeah I know I just say that commercial the other day. I was really surprised to see them advertising a vaccine on TV. I don't see that much. I think it's very misleading, because from what I have read, this vaccine has lots of scary side effects. Personally, I'd just rather be vigilant about my paps and make sure to get screened for STDs regularly.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Yeah I know I just saw that commercial the other day. I was really surprised to see them advertising a vaccine on TV.

Exactly. But we're talking about a "cancer" vaccine here and they're going to milk it for all it'$ worth.

[emmabella]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

I'd be willing to bet that most of those women HAVE heard of genital warts, but have no idea that it is caused by HPV or that HPV is related to cervical cancer. Wasn't covered in the sex ed classes I was given, and these days, who gets sex ed anymore? It's all absintence only (lack-of)education (Thanks Bush!).

I received this so-called abstinence only education in public high school. It was actually VERY informative about STDs. I learned more about the risks of unprotected sex and the much debated risks of "protected" sex then I ever learned in a similar secular sex ed class. By the end of that class I felt completely empowered and informed about the choices that I needed to make for myself.

The thing I hate most about these commercials (both the vax and the pre vax hpv awareness one) is that they do not ONCE mention that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. So on that point, I guess we agree. There is no education being given in them other than: you don't want scary HPV so get our vax.

[Electra375]

I don't like the advertising angle at all. Generally, if women have insurance they are seeking routine PAP test or going in 1X per year for birth control. I think such an item should be discussed between a doc and patient.

The ads for this vax touch on sensitive issues and language , just like birth control ads on TV they state "vaginal ring" and my kids are in the room -- my dad about flipped out of his seat! He does not get American TV very often.

My sex ed class went over STDs in some detail, it was 1990. I was only aware that HPV was an STD. So my first thought was this vax was an STD vax. Then I hear the CANCER scare tactics followed by the GYN statement that most cases of HPV clear up on their own...: Craziness, the ad is contradictory in nature.

I'm almost afraid to go to a doctor now for fear of being injected against my will against this or other "necessary" adult vaxes that are being so heavily marketed lately. I don't think my family doctor would honestly. As an elder at our church, I think he would be very careful about who he presents with this vax -- if anyone. Knowing me, if he said anything to me I'd start my STD spout and monogomous married relationship stuff. Anyway, I don't think the CNM would whom I see for PAPs and of course my hb mw would not and can not.

I don't like the ads for pharmaceuticals period, they put ideas in people's heads. How many illnesses are in people's heads now, but they know all the symptoms to discuss with their doctor b/c of the ads? And the pharma corps are making money selling drugs to people who may not really need them at all...

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by Electra375

I don't like the ads for pharmaceuticals period, they put ideas in people's heads. How many illnesses are in people's heads now, but they know all the symptoms to discuss with their doctor b/c of the ads? And the pharma corps are making money selling drugs to people who may not really need them at all...

What so many people still don't realize is that the pharma cartel is not in business for health and healing but instead they are a business that sells drugs. That's all. And they do a great business.

[capricorn]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Yeah I know I just say that commercial the other day. I was really surprised to see them advertising a vaccine on TV. I don't see that much. I think it's very misleading, because from what I have read, this vaccine has lots of scary side effects. Personally, I'd just rather be vigilant about my paps and make sure to get screened for STDs regularly.

I very much agree with you angelpie545. Nobody knows what long-term side-effects this vaccine may have. I find the thought of vaccinating 11-year-old girls with a cervical cancer vaccine revolting. I remember a morning-sickness drug called diestilbestrol prescribed to pregnant mothers was causing deformed genital tracts in these women's daughters (!). Heaven knows what may afflict the recipients of this vaccine in years to come.

To me,it is yet another instance of (junk) science in the service of madness.