Cervical cancer is one of the easiest to prevent types of cancers and the increased awareness about this fact is significantly shown in the incidence rates, which have declined radically in the last decades. Luckily, prevention methods like Pap screenings and vaccination have become widely available and accessible. Some developing countries are still confronted with the difficulty to afford the vaccine but progress has definitely been made and will continue to make efforts to facilitate the access of all women to the vaccine.

Gardasil was the first vaccine to enter the market,in 2006 and in 2009 Cervarix was approved by the FDA as a vaccine to be taken against HPV infections. This GlaxoSmithKline product is a bivalent HPV vaccine to be administered to women between 10 and 25 years. This vaccine is very effective in preventing the development oh HPV strains 16 and 18 into cervical cancer or any precancerous conditions. Since despite its decreased incidence, cervical ncer is still the second leading cause of cancer in women over 20 and under 40, the need for this enhanced vaccine was very strong in a time where we are given the chance to treat 100% curable diseases instead of struggling with cancer.


Though there are certain side effects to this vaccination and it also isn't 100% effective, controversy followed after its approval. In20% of the patients vaccinated as aprt of clinical trials particular reactions have been reported including pain, erythema, swelling at the injection site, fatigue, dizziness, headache, gastrointestinal disturbance and arthralgia. There are many women who are fighting to make people more aware about the adverse effects of Cervarix and Gardasil but girls are still choosing to be vaccinated. The Food and Drugs Association has also weighed all advantages and disadvantages and has inclined towards the approval of the vaccine due to its many benefits and clinically proven success in preventing cervical cancer in 93% of the cases studied. Safety also clearly overthrew the risks of side-effects.

These clinical trials are also sure to have come up with valid results. They have been conducted on a period of 5 and a half years and 700 women between 15 and 25 years old were involved. There's also ongoing research for perhaps even a better version of the vaccine.


Any young woman can take this vaccine but she mustn't skip her Pap screenings because of this. Certain indications exist however for the case of pregnant women. The simple and only indication for these women is not to take the vaccine. This is also the case for women planning to remain pregnant during the 6-month vaccination course.

Ask your doctor about how you can get vaccined or how to get your daughter vaccined. If monitored, side effects can be easily alleviated and the long term benefits are much greater.