FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- An experimental vaccine against four strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) may help prevent cervical cancer.
So say researchers at the Medical College of Georgia.
They're studying the vaccine, called quadrivalent, which may prevent infection by the HPV strains most likely to cause cervical cancer or genital warts. They study includes women aged 16 to 23 and 10- to 15-year-old boys and girls.
The researchers say if the vaccine proves effective and receives U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, it will be targeted at adolescents. The researchers acknowledge that may be a tough sell to parents.
"We are hoping parents will realize that one day their children will be sexually active. We must give this vaccine prior to individuals initiating intercourse, and that's why we have selected this young age group," says Dr. Daron G. Ferris, a family medicine physician and director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center at the college's hospital.
"The study is a wonderful opportunity to potentially lower your child's risk of ever developing cervical or penile cancer," Ferris says.
The 10- to 15-year-olds in the study will have their blood tested over several months to determine if they develop antibodies to HPV. The women will be followed for several years. That will include yearly Pap smears to check for precancerous changes of the cervix and vaginal exams to look for warts.
More information
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has more on human papillomavirus.
