Gardasil, a vaccine against four types of the human papillomarivus (HPV), may reduce the risk of cancers of the vagina and vulva in addition to reducing the risk of cervical cancer.
The HPV virus can lead to precancerous or cancerous changes to the cervix, vagina, penis and anus. Researchers combined information from three clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of Gardasil on the risk of precancerous changes to the vulva and vagina.
The study found that among women who had not been infected with the HPV virus, Gardasil was 100 percent effective against precancerous changes to the vulva or vagina. Among those that had been infected with a certain strain of the HPV virus, Gardasil was 71 percent effective. Gardasil was 49 percent effective against all precancerous changes to the vulva or vagina.
The researchers concluded "With time, such vaccination could result in reduced rates of HPV-related vulval and vaginal cancers".
