OPS Newsletters
There’s been a flurry of recent media about HPV and the new HPV vaccine for young women that protects against cervical cancer and genital warts. You may have been too busy preparing your student for a new school year to add more to your “To Do” list. Learning about the HPV virus and what is available to protect your student might be the most important thing you can do for your son or daughter’s health this year.
This Fall, the Alpha Kappa Delta Sorority in cooperation with the Pacific University Student Health Center, will be initiating a campaign to educate young adults, specifically women, about HPV and encourage women to get vaccinated.
What is HPV and why should you care about it?
HPV, human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than one out of every four girls and women between the ages of 14 and 59 have HPV—and nearly 45 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 24 are infected.
Most HPV infections don’t cause symptoms and clear up on their own. However, two specific HPV types cause 90% of all genital warts which, although a relatively benign condition, can lead to significant physical and emotional discomfort.
Two other types of HPV are responsible for causing 70% of all cervical cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed and 3,700 women will die from it this year. Now there’s a vaccine that protects against certain types of HPV –- it could help save your daughter’s life.
What is the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine contains inactivated (not live) viral proteins that protect against the four major types of HPV responsible for 90 percent of genital warts and 70 percent of cervical cancers. The vaccine is given in a series of three doses with the second dose given at least two months after the first one, and the third dose given at least six months after the first dose. This timeline is important in order for the vaccine to be optimally effective.
The vaccine was licensed by the FDA in 2006 for females age 9 - 26 years old, regardless of their sexual history. The vaccine is most effective if given before becoming sexually active. However, many young women who may have already had HPV infection can still benefit because few women have been infected with all four HPV vaccine types.
I have a son. What should I know about HPV for him?
Most men who get HPV (of any type) never develop any symptoms or health problems. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types can cause penile cancer or anal cancer in rare cases. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause penile or anal cancer.
Since HPV usually causes no symptoms, most men and women can get HPV – and pass it on - without realizing it. People can have HPV even if years have passed since they had sex. Currently, there is no vaccine or routine screening test for HPV in men. Finding out if you have HPV is not as important as finding out if you have the diseases that it can cause.
For more information on HPV in men, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-and-men.htm
What can you do? Parents/Guardians: Take Action
We understand that this may not be the easiest topic for you to discuss with your student, but it is important to be aware of what your student may be facing or thinking about and possibly asking for additional funding for.
Encourage your daughter to schedule an appointment at the Student Health Center to learn more about HPV and the new vaccine. We are open Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 4:00 pm.
Our price for the vaccine will be $180 per shot ($540 for the three-dose series). The Student Health insurance plan does not cover the cost of the vaccine. Many private insurance plans do cover the vaccine, but please note: the Student Health clinic is not a preferred provider for any private insurance plans. You should contact your plan before your daughter is vaccinated here to determine whether charges incurred at our clinic will be reimbursed to you.
You are always welcome to contact us if you have any questions about the HPV vaccine or other health services offered for students. We hope your student has a great school year (and calls home often!)
Sincerely,
Pacific University Student Health Services
503-352-2269/ Fax: 503-352-3105
www.pacificu.edu/healthcenter/
For more info about the HPV vaccine visit CDC’s website: www.cdc.gov/std/hpv