WSU Health and Wellness Services now offers the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by types of genital human papillomavirus, or HPV, commonly known as genital warts.

The vaccine consists of a series of three injections in six months for females aged 9 to 26, and has minimal side effects, said Marsha Turnbull, health education administrator for Health and Wellness Services.

In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed the vaccine, which prevents the contraction of four harmful strains of HPV: Types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

HPV Types 16 and 18 cause approximately 70 percent of cases of cervical cancer, while Types 6 and 11 cause nearly 90 percent of genital wart cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a study, the vaccine, called Gardasil, prevented all Type 16 and Type 18 pre-cancers in women who weren't previously exposed to these strains of the virus, and prevented 99 percent of genital wart cases caused by HPVs 6 and 11, according to Merck and Co. Inc., a research pharmaceutical company.

HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact with a person infected with the virus, Turnbull said. It is possible to transmit HPV through oral sex, but infection is more likely through vaginal and anal sex.

Health and Wellness Services documented 80 cases of HPV in WSU students from Aug. 1, 2005, to May 31, 2006, said Mary Steed, nurse coordinator for the department.

While most strains of HPV have no symptoms and go away on their own, some types can cause cervical cancer. That cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women around the world. HPV also has been linked to other, less common genital cancers, according to the CDC.

According to the CDC, it is possible that males would benefit from being vaccinated, and the vaccination could have indirect health benefits for females. The vaccine is not licensed for males by the FDA.

No appointment is necessary to get vaccinated by Health and Wellness Services, though a waiting list is prepared in case of high demand, Turnbull said.

The cost is $160 for each injection, but Turnbull recommends that students check with their insurance companies and policies to see if they are covered.

This is cache, read story here