HPV Type and Gardasil?

Question

Two questions in one actually :

Does anybody know if there is a way to identify the type of HPV after it is detected in a pap-smear followed by a HPV PCR test ? If the doctors can tell me what type, at least the vaccine (Gardasil) can be used to prevent the other 3 types that it prevents.

Question 2 is : Does anybody have any 1st hand experience with gardasil ?

Thanks a lot. Any information is highly appreciated.

Answer 1

Okay the girl above me is just totally wrong. There are over 100 different kinds of HPV and only about 12 can cause cancer, including cervical cancer. Not ALL kinds of HPV cause cancer.

Your doctor can tell you what kind of HPV you have. The vaccine prevents getting 4 different kinds of the virus - two that cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases and two that cause about 90% of genital wart cases.

Many doctors and even Merck and Co. (the company that makes the new vaccine) recommend ALL women get the vaccine, whether they have HPV or not. Most people don't have all four of the kinds the vaccine protects against, therefore protecting them from any kind they don't have. So, like you said, if you only have one kind that the vaccine protects against, and you get the vaccine, it should protect you against any of the three you don't already have.

Gardasil isn't out quite yet, but it should be really soon. Talk to your doctor about getting the shots next time you see them.

Check out these sites for more information about the vaccine:
http://www.gardasil.com/
http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hpv_vaccine

Answer 2

No, once you have any type of HPV the vaccine will just make it spread like wild fire thus ginving you cervical cancer. You've got this for life now, be responsible and tell all and any future partners.