Gardasil Guards Against Vaginal, Vulval Cancers

The vaccine reduced the risk of high-grade vaginal and vulval lesions by 49 percent, regardless of whether HPV was detected in the lesion.

"This is very impressive," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. "We're having a paradigm shift. It's very hard for a lot of people to recognize that we can actually prevent cancer, and it's very hard for people to recognize that certain types of cancer are sexually transmitted. The vaccine is very good. It is not perfect. It does not protect against every viral infection from HPV, but it protects against the ones that are the most common."

According to the Finnish study authors, the maximum effect of the vaccine would be expected in girls who are vaccinated in early adolescence, before any exposure to HPV.

"I would recommend it for my daughters and anybody else's daughters," Brooks said.

"I've been practicing medicine for 30 years and have seen patients die of cervical cancer and oftentimes younger patients who have kids at home," Twiggs added. "It's great that we can actually prevent it. It's very important for us to get the word out there about how this could prevent cancer."

More information

For more on vaginal cancer, visit the National Cancer Institute.

SOURCES: Leo B. Twiggs, M.D., professor and chairman, obstetrics and gynecology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Jay Brooks, M.D., chairman, hematology/oncology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Baton Rouge, La.; May 19, 2007,The Lancet