Human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for the development of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second
most common cancer in women worldwide but 80% occurs in developing countries, not countries with Pap screening
programs. Pap screening programs in industrialized countries have reduced the incidence of cervical cancer to
4-8/100,000 women. HPV vaccines may be a promising strategy for cervical cancer in women without access to
screening programs. In industrialized countries, the benefit of HPV vaccines focuses on individual abnormal Pap test
reduction not cancer prevention.
The focus of this review is to cover the side effects of Gardasil in perspective with the limited population benefit of
cervical cancer reduction in countries with organized Pap screening programs. In addition, information about Gardasil
benefits, risks and unknowns for individual patient decision making for vaccination is presented.
Gardasil offers protection against CIN 2+ lesions caused by HPV 16/18 and against genital warts caused by HPV
6/11 for at least 5 years. Combining Gardasil with repeated cytology screenings may reduce the proportion of abnormal
cytology screens and hence reduce the associated morbidity with the subsequent colposcopies and excisional