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HPV: an unwanted gift at Christmas

This unpleasant STD may see a seasonal surge, says Dr Thomas Stuttaford

Christmas party revelry is only weeks away - and with it the high spirits that contribute every year to a marked increase in sexually transmitted diseases. Even during the Second World War seasonal jollity resulted in a rise in the (already increased) rate of STDs.

One sexually transmitted infection with which about 70 per cent of sexually active people are, often unknowingly, confronted at some time, but usually throw off without lasting complications, is HPV, the human papillomavirus. HPV is popularly known as the genital wart virus, but this term irritates doctors who specialise in cervical cytology. They always refer to it as HPV and emphasise that although there are 80 HPV strains only two of these - HPV 16 and 18 - are responsible for about 75 per cent of cervical cancer cases. Another 11 strains of HPV have been shown to cause such tumours occasionally. Two other strains of HPV - 6 and 11 - result in unsightly genital warts, an affliction that frequently necessitates regular attendance at hospital clinics.

As 99.7 per cent of all cases of cervical cancer can be shown to have resulted from HPV infection, and more than 75 per cent of sexually active women have at some time been infected by HPV, the search for a vaccine that would spare women this hazard was intense.

Two vaccines have been licensed for use in this country. The one selected for the government vaccination campaign - and for the private scheme at Boots - is Cervarix. This protects against HPV strains 16 and 18, the two types usually responsible for cancer. The other vaccine is Gardasil, which not only protects against HPV 16 and 18 but also guards against 6 and 11, the strains that cause genital warts. There has been a suggestion that possibly it won't provide quite such lasting protection as Cervarix against 16 and 18.

Article: November 10, 2008
Source: The Times

Cancer and heart disease scares "put one million women off HRT a year"

More than a million women a year are missing out on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, a leading doctor warns. The number of prescriptions for HRT has fallen from 6.2million in 2001 to a predicted 2.6million for this year as a result of alarming research findings. In the first five months of this year alone, there were 18 per cent fewer prescriptions compared with the previous year.

But evidence has shown the study that sparked fears over the treatment was flawed. Dr John Stevenson, HRT expert at London's Royal Brompton Hospital, said the health scares had been a "disaster" for women's health. He warned that the NHS faces a long-term rise in female patients with fractures and heart disease, which are conditions that HRT combats. "Women now coming into the menopause are too scared to go on to HRT and I think it is a disgrace," said Dr Stevenson, who is chairman of the charity Women's Health Concern. "It has been a huge catastrophe for women and women's health and there is no doubt that women have suffered unnecessarily because of this." In the UK two million women were taking HRT at its 2001 peak but the number has now plunged to one million. Dr Stevenson added: "For most women suffering from menopausal symptoms I would advise them to have HRT without question. There is nothing else that is nearly as effective as HRT."

Article: September 20, 2008
Source: The Daily Mail

Screening Is Key To Cervical Cancer Prevention January was National Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness Month. "Cervical cancer is the only gynaecological cancer that can be prevented by regular screening, and Pap smear screening is probably the single most important preventative measure that a woman can take to prevent the development of cervical cancer," said Dinh. Dinh says the HPV vaccine is potentially one of the most exciting developments in the fight against cervical cancer, but points out that annual Pap smear screenings are still the best way to prevent this disease. Article Date: 09 Dec 2007; Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
A Single Bone Mineral Density Test Helps Predict 'Silent' Spinal Fractures Years Later Spinal fractures are the hallmark of osteoporosis, but one of the problems with diagnosing them is that they often have no symptoms," said Jane Cauley, Dr.P.H., professor of epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. "Many women may be walking around with multiple fractures and not even know it." "Our study... also provides evidence that a simple and non-invasive bone density test can help identify those at risk." (Bone Density Scan) If you are concerned about osteoporosis, and/or would like to book an appointment for a bone density scan, please contact us. Article Date: 18 Dec 2007; Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
Researchers Identify Indicator Of Ovarian Cancer "Ovarian cancer is often difficult to diagnose because symptoms are often recognised in the late stages of the disease when ovarian cancer is fundamentally incurable," said Lead Researcher Dr. Richard Moore, assistant professor in the Program for Women's Oncology at Women and Infants' Hospital / Brown University. "Our research was directed at identifying those unique characteristics or 'biomarkers' of the disease that might one day help us detect this disease earlier." "Our results show testing women suspected of ovarian cancer for both CA-125 and HE4 could possibly lead to a screening and diagnostic tool," adds Moore. "This is exciting news, particularly for women in the earliest stages of the disease when it is most treatable." Article Date: 30 Dec 2007; Source: MedicalNewsToday.com