BODY COMP (Body fat testing)
Take a look at our body comp page to find out about the most accurate means available of measuring body fat. The Dxa based body comp test is a great way of following your progress during any health and fitness lifestyle program and also a great way to motivate yourself to start making those changes now.
Bio-identical Hormone Balance & Saliva Testing
Take a look our menopause page to see the very latest offerings on salivary hormone testing and consultations about bio-identical hormone balance.
Gardasil
I'm very excited about Gardasil, the new vaccine against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) that has just been released. HPV is the virus involved in genital warts and precancerous lesions on the cervix, vulva and vagina, and cervical cancer. If you have had an abnormal PAP smear or genital warts in the past, it is quite likely that you've been exposed to HPV. In 2005, the CDC estimated that at least 50% of people will be exposed to HPV during their lifetime. A male or female of any age who takes part in any kind of sexual activity that involves genital contact is at risk. Many people who have HPV may not show any signs or symptoms. This means they can pass on the virus to others and not know it. HPV cannot treated with antibiotics (only bacteria can be) and we do not currently have any treatment for HPV, only for the changes it causes, like abnormal PAPs and warts. 50% of people infected with HPV will clear the virus from their bodies on their own. However, many people continue to carry the HPV and not only are able to pass the virus on to new sexual partners, but continue at risk for warts, abnormal PAPS and cervical cancer. Gardasil does not treat HPV. It helps prevent being infected by HPV.
Gardasil helps protect against the following diseases caused by HPV Types in the vaccine (6, 11, 16, and 18):
Gardasil is indicated for use in girls and women age 9 to 26. (It may be benefit in women older than 26. I will discuss this later in this article.) It is ideally given to girls or women before they have a chance to be exposed to HPV, i.e. before they start sexual activity. If you have daughters age 9 and over, you can speak with their pediatrician regarding this vaccine. If their pediatrician is not familiar with Gardasil, you are welcome to give us a call. I know it sounds like an early age to vaccinate a child against a sexually-transmitted infection but again, the ideal time to be vaccinated is before any sexual activity involving genital contact. 25% of girls have intercourse before the age of 15 and 75% before the age of 19. Only if you have one lifetime partner and that partner also only has one lifetime partner (you!) do you not have a risk of being exposed to HPV. Believe me, the very nicest people contract this virus. You don't need to be promiscous to get exposed to HPV.
That brings up an important question. What if you have already been exposed to HPV? (You would know you've been exposed to HPV if you've had an abnormal PAP smear or if you've had genital warts.) Should you get the vaccine? The American College of OB-Gyn (ACOG) has recommended that all women should consider the vaccine, regardless of whether they have been previously diagnosed with HPV. Women in the studies who had a previous history of HPV and were given the vaccine had a 40% reduction in the incidence of precancerous lesions on the cervix, vagina and vulva. So if you've been exposed in the past to HPV we still recommend the vaccine.
Now to the discussion about women over the age of 26 getting the vaccine. Certainly women over the age of 26 are at risk for contracting HPV. Unfortunately, thus far, Merck (the company releasing the vaccine) has only studied girls and women age 9 to 26 and so the FDA has only approved the vaccine for girls and women in this age group. There is nothing to suggest that the vaccine would be any less effective in women older than 26 or any riskier. However, no firm information about this is available as the studies just haven't been done. I believe there is a benefit to women over the age of 26 receiving the vaccine, especially women with no known HPV exposure in the past who are not in a stable, long-standing relationship. There is probably benefit for women over the age of 26 with a history of HPV exposure. When a medication is used "off-label" meaning without FDA approval, it means the patient understands the full picture of risk and benefit is unknown. Also, when a medication or drug is used "off-label" it is often not covered by insurance. Please call us for consultation if you have any questions about using the vaccine if you are over age 26.
The vaccine is given in three doses. The second dose is given 2 months after the first dose, and the third dose is given 6 months after the first dose. The vaccine is covered by most insurance plans. If it is not covered by your insurance or you are self pay, the approximate cost for each dose is $150 or $450 for the series. Remember, if you are over 26 your insurance will most likely not cover the vaccine. The most likely side effects are pain, itching and redness at the injection site. The vaccine is not made from eggs or horses and allergic reactions are uncommon. Bronchospasm (difficulty breathing) has been reported but is rare. You should not get the vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to this same vaccine in the past. You should also not get the vaccine if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. (There has not been any reported problems with pregnant women receiving the vaccine but there is insufficient information to OK it during pregnancy.) Please let us know if you have a bleeding disorder or an immune disorder like HIV. You should delay getting the vaccine if you have a fever over 100 degrees.
If you'd like to discuss the vaccine with Dr. Stone, please give us a call in the office to schedule a consultation. If you know you want to get the vaccine, just call us for an appointment. (You may want to call your insurance to see how they are covering the cost of the vaccine so you don't get any nasty surprises.)
