HPV Vaccines: Separating Fiction from Fact
You’ve probably heard a lot about the HPV vaccine, which protects against the sexually transmitted pathogen human papillomavirus — which itself can lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, throat, and more. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine, such as Michele Bachmann’s debunked claim that it causes mental retardation. But, even before Bachmann gave us her two cents, there have been plenty of falsehoods flying around about the HPV vaccine.
- Myth: Vaccination against HPV will increase sexual promiscuity among vaccine recipients.
Fact: Studies show that this fear is unfounded.
- Myth: Because the HPV vaccine only protects against two cancer-causing strains of HPV, it isn’t useful in cancer prevention.
Fact: The two cancer-causing strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against account for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Furthermore, Gardasil protects against two additional strains of HPV, which together are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine has caused death in some of its recipients.
Fact: While some people have died after receiving the vaccine, their deaths were not caused by it.
- Myth: There is human papillomavirus DNA in Gardasil.
Fact: Gardasil consists of empty protein shells. The infectious portions of HPV’s genetic code are not involved in its manufacture.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine is only approved for ages 9 to 26, but cervical cancer rarely affects this age group. Therefore, the vaccine will have no impact on cervical-cancer rates.
Fact: Cervical cancer usually appears later in life because the cancer takes a long time to develop.
- Myth: Cervical cancer is a relatively rare cancer whose rates have been declining for decades. Therefore, the vaccine is unnecessary.
Fact: Cervical cancer rates have been declining among women with access to Pap tests, but cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in other parts of the world.
For an expanded version of this post, with citations and more full-fledged explanations, please visit http://blog.advocatesaz.org/2012/01/24/hpv-vaccines-separating-fiction-from-fact
NEW: How to Hone Your Baloney Detector
We have written before about bogus STI cures — some unscrupulous dietary-supplement companies make false claims about their products’ alleged abilities to cure STIs. It is important to be able to read between the lines when evaluating the claims made by dietary-supplement manufacturers. Are they providing you with evidence, or merely with advertising? The FDA has a list of signs of false claims, including:
- statements that suggest the product can treat or cure diseases
- statements that claim the product is “totally safe,” “all natural,” or has “definitely no side effects”
- personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results
- promises of no-risk “money-back guarantees”
Additionally, as reported by Harvard University Health Services, the Food and Nutrition Science Alliance developed a list of “red flags of junk science.” Some of these red flags include:
- recommendations based on a single study
- dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations
- recommendations based on studies published without peer review
Certainly many of these bullet points apply to the claims of some of the companies that were cited by the FDA last year for peddling bogus STI cures.
READ MORE: http://blog.advocatesaz.org/2012/03/01/how-to-find-accurate-health-information-online
You think you may have herpes, genital warts, or HIV, but you don’t have a doctor or are too ashamed and worried to go to a health center or clinic. So you research online and find impressive looking medical sites that offer “cures” for your condition. These claims sound too good to be true, and they are!
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have joined forces in the Fraudulent STD Products Initiative. The FDA is the government agency that evaluates drugs for safety and effectiveness. Together, these agencies are warning makers of these bogus products to change their claims or take these products off the market. The FDA states that none of these products have been shown to treat any disease and they may have untested ingredients that could cause harm. Dr. Debbie Birnkrant of the Food and Drug Administration warns that these products won’t work and may cause delays in someone getting treament. Effective treatments for Sexually Transmitted Diseases are only available by prescription through a health care provider.
READ MORE:
http://blog.advocatesaz.org/2011/06/20/beware-of-fake-std-cures/#more-1885
HPV Vaccines: Separating Fiction from Fact
You’ve probably heard a lot about the HPV vaccine, which protects against the sexually transmitted pathogen human papillomavirus — which itself can lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, throat, and more. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine, such as Michele Bachmann’s debunked claim that it causes mental retardation. But, even before Bachmann gave us her two cents, there have been plenty of falsehoods flying around about the HPV vaccine.
- Myth: Vaccination against HPV will increase sexual promiscuity among vaccine recipients.
Fact: Studies show that this fear is unfounded.
- Myth: Because the HPV vaccine only protects against two cancer-causing strains of HPV, it isn’t useful in cancer prevention.
Fact: The two cancer-causing strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against account for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Furthermore, Gardasil protects against two additional strains of HPV, which together are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine has caused death in some of its recipients.
Fact: While some people have died after receiving the vaccine, their deaths were not caused by it.
- Myth: There is human papillomavirus DNA in Gardasil.
Fact: Gardasil consists of empty protein shells. The infectious portions of HPV’s genetic code are not involved in its manufacture.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine is only approved for ages 9 to 26, but cervical cancer rarely affects this age group. Therefore, the vaccine will have no impact on cervical-cancer rates.
Fact: Cervical cancer usually appears later in life because the cancer takes a long time to develop.
- Myth: Cervical cancer is a relatively rare cancer whose rates have been declining for decades. Therefore, the vaccine is unnecessary.
Fact: Cervical cancer rates have been declining among women with access to Pap tests, but cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in other parts of the world.
For an expanded version of this post, with citations and more full-fledged explanations, please visit http://ppadvocatesaz.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/hpv-vaccines-separating-fiction-from-fact
