If I have a low strain of HPV can I still get the vaccine?

Question

I have a low strain of HPV. I realize that there are over 70 strains, 2 causing genital warts and about 3 that cause cancer. I apparently have one of the common strains with no symptoms. If the main pupose of the vaccine is to prevent the worst strands of HPV, then can I still get the vaccine to prevent my strand from becoming any worse or maybe make it go away permanently?

Answer 1

Hello:
Very intelligent question. If you have one of the subtypes of HPV that are not responsible or linked to cervical cancer( 6,18, 31 and I think also 11) then you can absolutely receive gardisil vaccination which is a series of three shots. This will protect you from contracting these specific subtypes of the human papilloma virus. As far as your subtype going away, once you have it, you will always test positive for the strain but that does not necessarily mean that you will ever have a problem or symptoms in the future.
As a physician, I am so incredibly excited that we finally have a vaccine that could potentially/theoretically wipe out a form of cancer!
Now we have to work on the insurance companies to get them to pay the full price to have as many girls vaccinated at a young age as possible.
I hope this helped answer your question and yes, go ahead and get started on the gardisil series.
Regards,
Warren Shaffer, MD

Answer 2

That is something you need to discuss with your doctor. I would think that since you already have HPV that it wouldn't work but then I don't know all the facts yet on this vaccine. As for making the current strain you have go away..................no such luck.