A vaccine against the virus that is mainly responsible for cervical cancer is now available from Student Health, but it isn't cheap - at least for the time being.
The Food and Drug administration approved Gardisil, a human papillomavirus vaccine for women under 26, in June, and it has been available through Student Health since last month. It costs $390 in total, and is given in three doses.
The vaccine protects against the four most common types of genital HPV infections, which together cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unlike other STDs, genital HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not through an exchange of bodily fluid.
Despite the high cost, officials at Student Health say that they are seeing increasing student interest.
Already, about 20 doses of the vaccine have been administered, and Women's Health Medical Director Janice Asher said that many more are asking about it.
However, she cautioned that there may be risks to getting a vaccine so soon after it's released.
"Students may wish to consider waiting six to 12 months before getting the vaccine," Asher said. "It looks like it is extremely safe, but having said that sometimes we find out things about medications that are not clear during their research phases."
Still, she said she predicts that the results will ultimately be positive.
"We are very excited about this advance," Asher said. "The vaccine will be tremendous in eliminating infections."
Not many other universities have matched Penn's relative enthusiasm about the development, and some that do offer the vaccine charge even higher prices.
At Cornell and New York universities, for example, the vaccine costs $495 and $465, respectively.
Harvard University does not yet offer the vaccine, but will for a cost yet to be determined beginning next month.
Yale University also doesn't offer the vaccine, though it says it's still considering the possibility.
Both Asher and Student Health nurse practitioner Deborah Mathis recommend that women who currently have multiple sexual partners or are 25 years old at least consider paying for the vaccine, which requires a series of three $130 injections over the course of six months.
The vaccine is not covered under Penn's student health insurance policy, and Asher said she does not expect this to change for a while.
Although Gardisil is not yet provided under insurance or subsidized by the government, within in a number of years it will become "standard of care" for women to receive the vaccine, Mathis said.
"Young girls will be getting the vaccine the same as they get vaccinated for hepatitis," she said.
In part, this is because Gardisil is intended for all women, not just those who are currently having sex, Asher said.
Mathis also said she predicts that Gardisil will soon be approved for women over 26 as well as men.
The CDC estimates that about 20 million Americans have genital HPV and that 50 percent of sexually active individuals will contract it during their lifetime. Seventy-four percent of the more than 6 million new cases of genital HPV diagnosed each year are between the ages of 15 and 24.
Students who want more information about the vaccine should contact Student Health.
