I received the following letter from a reader:
"I am a 35-year-old female. My general health is good, I am active, and a non-smoker. My new partner told me that he has genital warts. We have not yet had sexual intercourse, but we would like to take the relationship further. Would the Gardasil vaccine help in reducing the risk of transmitting genital warts for a woman at my age? Thank you in advance."
Dear Reader,
Your letter raises several interesting points. The human papillomavirus or HPV vaccine has been licensed for use in girls and women ages 9 through 26. It is most effective for younger girls and women who have never been sexually active. However, based on research on the vaccine, the United States Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices has recommended that it be used in the following cases:
• All girls between 11 and 12.
• Girls and women 13 to 26 who have not yet received the vaccine.
• Women up to the age of 26 who have had abnormal pap smears, genital warts or some other condition.
• Girls as young as nine years old can be vaccinated at their physician's discretion.
You mentioned that your new partner has genital warts. The vaccine has been proven to prevent infection with the HPV types that cause most genital warts in the age group mentioned above.
However, with current recommendations, you would not be a candidate for the vaccine based on age alone.
I recommend that you use condoms to reduce your risk if you decide to pursue sexual relations with this partner. However, please bear in mind that transmission can still occur even with condom use.
The vaccine consists of three injections over a six month period at a total cost of approximately US$360.
