As it has been used, it has been shown to be particularly successful in preventing cervical cancer in young women patients. Three authors write, "In clinical trials, the vaccine has been 100% effective in preventing the 2 types of HPV (types 16 and 18) responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and the 2 types of HPV (types 6 and 11) responsible for 90% of genital warts" (Vamos, McDermott & Daley, 2008). If the patient suffers from genital warts, they can be removed by a doctor using podophyllin solution, which is then washed off. In rare cases, they have to be removed by freezing, surgery, or with laser treatment (Editors). In the case of cervical cancer, it is usually treated with surgery to remove the cervix and any other affected organs, and then radiation or chemotherapy. In some cases, people have had reactions to the vaccine, but they were mostly minor, such as nausea or reddening of the area around the shot location. The side effects of cancer treatment can be much more profound. There can be complications from surgery, and radiation and chemotherapy can cause weakness, nausea, hair loss, and many other symptoms. In most other cases, there are very few if any side effects, and, as noted, the disease can clear up by itself.

Statistically, the least risky forms of HPV are those that cause genital warts. Two writers continue, "Indeed, only 16% of the sample knew that external genital warts do not cause cervical cancer. This distinction is also one that causes significant fear and concern among women with external genital warts, who may believe that cervical cancer is impending" (Bertram, and...

Tables indicate that poverty and age also can have an effect on who gets the disease.
HPV-associated cancer rates and county poverty level in the United States, 1998 -- 2003

Courtesy of Center for Disease Control.

In conclusion, HPV is so prevalent in society that estimates show that up to 90% of women may have been infected with the disease at some point in their lives. Since it is so difficult to detect, more awareness needs to bring the disease to public attention. There is also misunderstanding about the vaccine to prevent it. Many people believe that it sould be mandatory for young women, just as other innoculations are, and if that happens, it could reduce the rate of cervical cancer considerably.

References

Editors. "STD Facts." Centers for Disease Control. 2010. 12 April 2010.

Barrett, Michael, and Mary Bissell. "What Everyone Should Know about Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Questions and Answers." The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 15.3-4 (2006): 171+.

Bertram, Cathy C., and Victoria P. Niederhauser. "Understanding Human Papillomavirus: An Internet Survey of Knowledge, Risk, and Experience among Female and Male College Students in Hawaii." American Journal of Health Education 39.1 (2008): 15+.

Howard, Michelle, et al. "Barriers to Acceptance of Self-sampling for Human Papillomavirus across Ethnolinguistic Groups of Women." Canadian Journal of Public Health 100.5 (2009): 365+.

Vamos, C.A., McDermott, R.J., & Daley, E.M. (2008). The HPV vaccine: Framing the arguments for…