Arizona has an especially high teen-pregnancy rate. Arizona also promotes abstinence-only education in its public schools.

Arizona is known for a lot of things. The Grand Canyon, our universities, beautiful sunsets.

And, oh yeah, our truly awful teen pregnancy rate.

Ranked against the other 49 states, Arizona’s teen-pregnancy rate has been in the top 5 for years. And while you probably won’t see that little factoid emblazoned on a license plate anytime soon, teen pregnancy still has a significant impact on Arizona residents.

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Abstinence-only education teaches that the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and STIs is to abstain from sex, which is true. It is also not very helpful to the 70 percent of teenagers who have had intercourse by age 19.

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As of 2009, Arizona had the fifth highest teen birth rate in the United States. This trend is on the rise — as of 2006 the rate had increased by 6.5 percent. In 2009, 12,537 teenagers became pregnant. Of those pregnancies, 10,952 resulted in live births. While the majority of those women were either 18 or 19, that’s still about 3,500 girls under the age of 17 giving birth, a number that varies every year but generally stays in the 4000s.

Teen mothers are much more likely to drop out of high school and to skip college entirely. They struggle more financially and emotionally. Not to mention the fact that teen pregnancy costs the state $9 million a year.

Who else joins us at the top of the list? New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. What do we all have in common? Beautiful sunsets and abstinence-only education. Since I’m pretty sure the sunsets aren’t to blame, let’s talk about sex (education).

Abstinence-only education teaches that the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and STIs is to abstain from sex, which is true. It is also not very helpful to the 70 percent of teenagers who have had intercourse by age 19.

Abstinence-only education typically does not provide information on birth control or safe-sex practices. In fact, studies have shown that abstinence programs spread false information (e.g., touching another person’s genitals leads to pregnancy, half of gay men in the United States have AIDS) and shame.

The traditional thinking has been that teaching teenagers about sex will cause them to have sex. You know, like how wearing a raincoat causes it to rain? But studies actually show that sex education has no impact on teenage rates of sexual activity. Differences in education do, however, impact whether or not teens use protection. Teens who receive comprehensive sex education are 60 percent less likely to become pregnant than teens who received no education. Teens who receive abstinence-only education are just as likely to become pregnant as teens who receive no education at all.

We cheat our teens when we deny them access to accurate information about their bodies. The federal government spends billions of dollars every year on abstinence education, despite the overwhelming evidence that these programs aren’t just unhelpful to teens, they’re harmful.

OK, I’m getting off my soapbox now. But if you’re as annoyed as I am, you can read more here. Or check out “The Purity Myth” by Jessica Valenti.

Madelaine Archie wrote for Border Health Care, a blog focusing on health-care issues in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Below are short breakdowns of the bills, and the times and locations of the committee hearings. Please email for further information or to RSVP. We will provide you with the materials to be able to testify.

1.       House Bill 2838 bans abortions at 20 weeks or more, even if there is a lethal fetal anomaly. While supporters of this bill claim HB2838 will protect women and keep them safe, we know the real reason for this bill: to prevent women from accessing abortion care altogether and continue to take away our right to choose what is right for us and our own futures. This bill is being heard at 8:15 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, February 15, at the House of Representatives.

2.       House Bill 2800 will have a devastating effect on women’s health care in Arizona.  This bill effectively prohibits Planned Parenthood from providing family planning services including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, and basic health care via AHCCCS and Title X.  Research has shown that 78 percent of Arizonans support public funding for family planning services. For every $1 the state invests in family planning programs for low-income women Arizona taxpayers save $4 in Medicaid costs associated with unintended pregnancies. Arizona can’t afford to lose this funding that our friends and neighbors rely on to plan their futures! This bill is being heard at 8:15 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, February 15, at the House of Representatives.

3.       Senate Bill 1494 does not focus on the safety of women, or keep their best interests at heart. Instead of focusing on the real concerns of Arizonans — jobs and the economy — our lawmakers are pushing a bill that would force doctors to provide ideological misinformation to patients. Senate Bill 1494 would force doctors to tell a woman that the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being and offer crisis pregnancy centers as a safe and credible alternative to abortion care. CPCs are unlicensed, unaccredited, and unregulated. In fact, numerous studies have shown that crisis pregnancy centers give women false, ideologically driven information. In the Waxman Report, a study commissioned by Congress, investigators found that 87 percent of crisis pregnancy centers contacted by investigators gave false or misleading information about abortion. This bill is being heard at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, February 15, at the Senate.

packets of individual condoms

Welcome to the second installment of “Over 90 Percent of What Planned Parenthood Does.” In this series we will highlight Planned Parenthood’s diverse array of services — the ones Jon Kyl doesn’t know about.

It’s National Condom Week! So it’s only fitting that the second installment of our “Over 90 Percent” series honors the humble condom, that mainstay of anyone’s safer-sex arsenal. By providing a barrier between body parts and reducing skin-to-skin contact, condoms dramatically decrease risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection (STI). On top of all of that, their use during heterosexual intercourse can keep sperm from entering the vagina, making them essential components in family planning. Condoms can be used in a wide variety of sexual activities — they can be worn on penises or put onto sex toys, and with a couple of scissor snips they can be converted into dental dams. They are inexpensive and widely available without the need for a prescription. If you need to replenish your condom supply, or if you’re using them for the first time, you can walk into any Planned Parenthood health center to pick them up.

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Learning how to use condoms correctly will maximize their effectiveness. Are you aware of the finer points of condom use?

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There are tons of contraceptive options for people with uteruses, from pills to IUDs, but condoms are one of the few options that people with penises have — although there is exciting research being done on expanding these options. If you are heterosexually active and capable of getting someone pregnant, using condoms consistently and correctly will allow you to take control of your reproductive future. In a given year, 2 out of 100 females whose male partners use condoms will become pregnant if they always use condoms correctly — with imperfect use, this number increases to 18 out of 100. Combining condom use with other birth control methods, like diaphragms, birth control pills, or IUDs, will dramatically boost the efficacy of your contraception.

In terms of STIs, condoms are relevant to sexually active individuals regardless of whether or not unintended pregnancies are a concern. Engaging in vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom dramatically increases risk for passing on sexually transmitted pathogens — including HIV, hepatitis B, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, trichomoniasis, pubic lice, and scabies. Most of these STIs can be transmitted orally as well, with a high risk for herpes, hepatitis B, CMV, gonorrhea, and syphilis — so condoms play an important role in a wide variety of sexual encounters.

Even sex toys can be made safer with the addition of a condom — when passed between partners, sex toys (like vibrators) can transmit pathogens. Changing condoms between uses will decrease this risk. Sex toys can also transmit pathogens from one part of your body to another, so even solo, it might be a good idea to change condoms if switching between openings. Even if you don’t have any STIs, you could, for example, introduce E. coli from the anus into your urethra, the makings for an irritating urinary tract infection.

But most of you know why condoms are so important in reducing the risk for STIs or unintended pregnancy. Unfortunately, especially given the prominence of abstinence-only sex education, a lot of people don’t know how to use a condom properly. Planned Parenthood’s website includes an informative instructional video (don’t worry, a plastic phallus is used in lieu of an actual penis for demonstration). Below are Planned Parenthood’s easy instructions for proper condom use — they are written with vaginal intercourse in mind, but regardless of what activities you plan to engage in, following these instructions will protect you and your partner from STIs, as well as unintended pregnancy if that is relevant to your situation.

• Put the condom on before the penis touches the vulva. Men leak fluids from their penises before and after ejaculation. This fluid can carry enough germs to pass sexually transmitted infections and possibly cause pregnancy.
• Use a condom only once. Use a fresh one for each erection (“hard-on”). Have a good supply on hand.
• Condoms usually come rolled into a ring shape. They are individually sealed in aluminum foil or plastic. Be careful — don’t tear the condom while unwrapping it. If it is torn, brittle, stiff, or sticky, throw it away and use another.
• Put a drop or two of lubricant inside the condom.
• Pull back the foreskin, unless circumcised, before rolling on the condom.
• Place the rolled condom over the tip of the hard penis.
• Leave a half-inch space at the tip to collect semen.
• Pinch the air out of the tip with one hand while placing it on the penis.
• Unroll the condom over the penis with the other hand.
• Roll it all the way down to the base of the penis.
• Smooth out any air bubbles. (Friction against air bubbles can cause condom breaks.)
• Lubricate the outside of the condom.
• When finished, pull out before the penis softens.
• Don’t spill the semen — hold the condom against the base of the penis while you pull out.
• Throw the condom away.
• Wash the penis with soap and water before having sex play again.

You can also increase the efficacy of your condoms by storing them properly and using them correctly. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your condoms.

• Store condoms in a cool, dry place. Wallets and glove compartments are not good long-term storage locations for condoms.
• Check the expiration date before using a condom. If the expiration has passed, get thee to a drugstore for new ones!
• Beware of novelty condoms. Read the label and make sure they are intended to protect against STIs and pregnancy.
• When using a condom on a penis, pinch the air out of the tip while unrolling it onto the shaft of the penis, leaving a half inch of space above the tip. This will reduce the chances of the condom breaking upon ejaculation.
• Use lubricant (“lube”) with your condoms — both inside and out. By making condoms more slippery, the chances that they’ll break are significantly reduced. Sensation is also enhanced because lubricant decreases friction. Never use oil-based products, such as Vaseline, with a latex or non-latex rubber condom. Use only water or silicone-based lube with latex and non-latex rubber condoms.
• Do not reuse condoms. (I hope this is obvious!)

Planned Parenthood carries PROPER ATTIRE^® condoms in their health centers. These condoms come in 15 different styles, and offer sexually active individuals a way to protect against STIs and unintended pregnancies. Condoms are available in Planned Parenthood health centers, as well as from some community health centers, drugstores, some supermarkets, and vending machines.

• President Obama, ever the pacifist, is kowtowing to the demands of Catholic bishops who care more about their dogma than the health and livelihoods of women. (MSNBC)
• Planned Parenthood is OK with the president making the concession though — whatever it takes to ensure women have access to birth control, we’re on board! (ABC News)
• Speaking of birth control, you can credit the drop in teen pregnancy and abortions to it. (WebMD)
• The Arizona Legislature (with the help of the Center for Arizona Policy) is coming out with guns blazing against choice this year. Again. (Tucson Citizen)
• Arizona Republic columnist E.J. Montini notes the hypocrisy of our legislature’s seemingly immense care and concern for fetuses while lacking the same for actual born children. (AZ Central)
• Planned Parenthood: Prioritizing the health and safety of black women. (HuffPo)
• Rather than, say, creating jobs and passing legislation that will resuscitate the current economy, Congress seems to be solely focused on taking down reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood. (The Hill)
• Just what we don’t need — the Old Boys’ Club dictating “wisdom” on contraceptive coverage. (RH Reality Check)
• Students at a Pennsylvania college can now access emergency contraception via a vending machine! (CNN)

Failure to take birth control pills properly can cause a lot of anxiety, and even lead to pregnancy. For best results, follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Oral contraceptives (also known as birth control pills or BCPs) are used to prevent pregnancy. Taken properly, they are about 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. They are even more effective when used in combination with other birth-control methods, such as condoms.

There are many different brands of birth control pills. Most contain a combination of the two female hormones estrogen and progesterone, but there are some BCPs that only contain progesterone. These different brands may need to be taken in slightly different ways and may have different benefits and risks, but whichever type you use, it’s very important to take them properly to get the most benefit.

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You cannot take a birth control pill only when you remember to or just after you’ve had a sexual encounter — they must be taken daily.

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First of all, it’s important to know which oral contraceptive you are taking. These pills usually come in packs of 21, 28, or 91 tablets and need to be taken daily.

• Packs of 21: Take one pill each day until all 21 are gone, then don’t take a pill for seven days – this is when you should have your period. After seven days off, start a new pack of 21 pills.
• Packs of 28: Take one pill each day, and when you finish with the pack start a new pack the next day. Sometimes these packs have pills with different colors that contain different doses of the hormones or inactive ingredients, vitamins, or minerals. They must be taken in order.
• Packs of 91: The 91-tablet pack is larger and may contain three trays – take one pill each day until all 91 pills have been taken and then start the new pack of 91 pills the next day.

When you first receive a prescription for birth control pills, you will start taking the pills on the first or fifth day of your period or on the first Sunday after you have started bleeding. It’s important to discuss this with a health-care provider so that you know when to take your first pill. Also, the pill will not be immediately effective in preventing pregnancy – it must be taken daily for at least a week or more before you are fully protected, so you will need to use a backup method such as condoms until the pills take full effect.

You need to take one pill each day at the same time – or as close to the same time as you can. Taking the pill with food cuts down on nausea and stomach upset, so if you experience these side effects you can coordinate a regular meal with taking your pill – additionally, if you eat regular meals, this may help you to take the pill at the same time every day. If you do not take oral contraceptives regularly as prescribed, you have a greater chance of getting pregnant. You cannot take a birth control pill only when you remember to or just after you’ve had a sexual encounter. They don’t work like Plan B!

If you miss taking a pill, you may not be protected from pregnancy. You may need to use a backup method depending on when you missed a pill or how many pills you have missed. Additionally, this means that you must start each new pack of pills on time. Also, if you vomit or have diarrhea, you may not be protected from pregnancy. Each brand of pills has an informational sheet with directions to guide you if you miss taking a pill. Follow the instructions for your brand of pill. It’s a good idea to keep one of these informational inserts handy so that you can refer to it for other information such as side effects and when you should call a health care provider.

Birth control pills can have side effects, so it’s important to discuss these with a health care provider before you decide which type of contraception to use. Some side effects can be serious and it’s important to see a doctor if you develop them, so always refer back to the manufacturer’s information or call a doctor if you are unsure about a side effect.

Additionally, BCPs may interact with other medications, so let the pharmacist or doctor know everything you are taking, including vitamins and herbs. For example, some antibiotics may make the birth control pill less effective and you may need to use a backup method while you are on the antibiotic.

Three more points to keep in mind when you are using oral contraceptives:

• You should not smoke when you take the pill because it can increase your risk for heart attacks or strokes.
• Birth control pills do not protect you against sexually transmitted infections, so it may be necessary to use a barrier method, such as a condom or dental dam.
• Remember to check the expiration date on the packet of pills if you have enough to last several months so that you aren’t using an expired packet of pills.

Planned Parenthood can provide you with more information about birth control pills and other contraceptive choices. You can make an appointment at a Planned Parenthood health center to discuss your options with a clinician.

As tools to reduce risk for STI transmission, dental dams are not to be ignored.

Many consider oral sex to be a safer form of sexual activity compared to vaginal or anal intercourse. For this reason, they might put less emphasis on the use of latex barriers, such as dental dams and condoms, during oral sex. Unfortunately, this idea is misguided and can lead to the transmission of preventable infections.

It is generally true that oral sex presents less of a risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – but this risk is not trivial, especially when people are under the impression that they don’t need to use barrier methods during oral sex. Most sexually transmitted infections can be passed along by oral sex, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, herpes (which can be transmitted back and forth from the mouth, as cold sores, to the genital region, as genital herpes), human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV. Even pubic lice can be transferred from the genital region to eyelashes and eyebrows! Additionally, intestinal parasites are more likely to be transmitted via oral sex than through vaginal sex. A microscopic amount of fecal matter containing parasites can be infectious, and can be unknowingly ingested when present on genitals.

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Seventy percent of adolescents who reported engaging in oral sex had never used a barrier to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections during oral sex.

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Some bacterial STIs, such as gonorrhea and syphilis, can do permanent damage if not treated in time. Furthermore, gonorrhea of the throat is much more difficult to treat than gonorrhea in the genital or rectal areas. And some viral STIs can’t be cured (such as herpes and HIV), while others can cause chronic infections that have been linked to cancer (such as hepatitis, which is associated with liver cancer, and HPV, which is associated with throat cancer as well as cervical cancer and anal cancer).

According to a study published in Pediatrics, among California ninth graders oral sex was more prevalent than vaginal sex, and considered to pose much less of a risk than vaginal sex. A small but significant number of these students believed that the risk of STI transmission during oral sex was zero – not just low-risk, but no-risk. While these data were self-reported, they do point to an overarching trend, one in which people falsely believe that oral sex will protect them from acquiring STIs. Another study carried out in Washington, D.C., by researchers with the University of Maryland had similar findings – adolescents considered oral sex to be less risky than vaginal sex, they were unlikely to use protection if they engaged in it, and they were less likely to believe that oral sex could transmit HIV than they were to believe it could be transmitted via vaginal sex.

HIV, however, can indeed be transmitted orally, as the virus can be found in blood, vaginal fluids, seminal fluids, and pre-ejaculate. According to the researchers at the University of Maryland,

Cells in the mucous lining of the mouth may carry HIV into the lymph nodes or the bloodstream. Also, blood from the mouth may enter the urethra, the vagina, the anus, or directly into the body through small cuts or open sores.

Researchers have found that the majority of sexually active adolescents don’t use barrier methods, such as condoms, for oral sex. STIs, however, can be transmitted orally.

One study carried out by researchers at Yale University found that 70 percent of adolescents who reported engaging in oral sex had never used a barrier to protect themselves from STIs during oral sex – and only 17 percent reported using barriers every time. The same study found that only 9 percent never used protection during vaginal intercourse, and 61 percent reported using protection every time. These lopsided data indicate that there seems to be a prevailing view among young people that oral sex is low-risk or even risk-free, though they still recognize the importance of using barrier methods for vaginal intercourse.

Another study, which focused on teenagers who took “virginity pledges,” found that these adolescents were more likely to have oral or anal sex (ostensibly to “preserve their virginity”), and condom use during oral sex was “almost completely absent” among this population. This study found no difference in STI rates among pledgers versus nonpledgers, and this may be due to pledgers’ propensity toward unprotected oral sex as well as a greater reluctance to use barrier methods even after starting to engage in vaginal intercourse. Pledgers were also found to be less likely to be screened for STIs.

It is possible that many adolescents have been conditioned to think of oral sex as not “real” sex. Especially within a heterosexual context, sexually active people might be more likely to regard vaginal intercourse as “real” sex, with other activities ranking lower. Additionally, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, intentionally or not, seem to be correlated with the idea among students that one’s virginity can be “preserved” by having oral or anal sex in lieu of vaginal intercourse. Because these programs are not likely to provide students with accurate information about barrier methods, those who engage in oral or anal sex to preserve their virginity are less likely to use condoms or dental dams.

These attitudes – that oral sex is not “real” sex and is therefore less risky, along with ignorance regarding STI transmission and methods of prevention – give rise to higher STI transmission rates among the sexually active population. It is important that sexually active people are able to know and evaluate the risks inherent to sexual activity, but when the belief that oral sex is “low-risk” persists, they cannot make decisions based on accurate information.

The HPV vaccine, released in 2006, was ripe for controversy, at least in places like the United States. Here there is a strong anti-sex undercurrent from certain segments of society, and fears abound that a vaccine that protects against a common sexually transmitted infection — especially one whose symptoms disproportionately affect females — would encourage sexual promiscuity among our nation’s teenage girls. In addition, there is a segment of society that is deeply suspicious toward vaccines, a fear that is often fueled by misinformation or misunderstanding.

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The HPV Vaccine Controversy is an excellent resource for anyone considering vaccination, as well as those who have already been exposed to human papillomavirus.

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While Krishnan’s book is an invaluable guide for anyone considering the vaccine for themselves or their child, it covers much wider territory than just the vaccine and its attendant controversies. The first half of the book is devoted not to a discussion of vaccination but to a thorough and accessible description of female anatomy (although apparently her claim about the teenage cervix is controversial), the lifecycle and transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV), cancer screening techniques such as the Pap test, and the slow development of cancer caused by HPV infection. It also has good information on genital warts, which are caused by certain strains of HPV (such as HPV-6 and HPV-11) that often get overlooked in discussions of their cancer-causing cousins (such as HPV-16 and HPV-18). This makes the book an excellent resource for anyone who has had an abnormal Pap test and has questions — the detailed descriptions of the various cervical-cell abnormalities and the different stages of cervical cancer will assist the lay reader in making sense of her diagnosis.

Additionally, this is a useful handbook for anyone who has been diagnosed with a chronic HPV infection. Krishnan empowers her HPV-positive readers with information that can help them reduce the risk of the recurrence of warts or the development of precancerous or cancerous lesions. Tips to minimize symptoms are commonsense yet important, such as the reminder to quit smoking. Krishnan cites a large study showing a strong correlation between smoking and HPV-16-related severe cervical dysplasia (a precursor to cancer). She mentions that cigarette products, such as nicotine, can wend their way into cervical mucus, suggesting a possible mechanism by which smoking can antagonize the development of cellular abnormalities.

While the focus is on cervical cancer — in line with the pervading discourse surrounding HPV — there is plenty of information that pertains to male readers. An entire chapter is devoted to HPV in males, addressing questions such as whether they should be vaccinated to protect their future female partners, or if men who have sex with men would especially benefit from the vaccine’s protection against anal and throat cancers. And, of course, any sexually active person, regardless of gender, is vulnerable to genital warts, against which Gardasil (but not Cervarix) protects.

Krishnan makes a striking point about the potential the HPV vaccine has to curb cancer deaths caused by human papillomavirus. The Pap test is such an effective screening tool that doctors are able to nip most cellular abnormalities in the bud before they progress to invasive cancer. Cervical cancer mostly strikes people who don’t have access to Pap tests — not just uninsured U.S. women who can’t afford health care, but hundreds of millions of women in undeveloped countries. The vaccine could make an enormous impact if it could be delivered to this underserved population — but unfortunately, they are the population least likely to have access to an expensive vaccine such as Gardasil.

However, the efficacy of these vaccines is nothing to sneeze at. Recipients will have fewer precancerous lesions that require treatment, and Gardasil protects from the strains of HPV that cause 90 percent of genital warts. On the balance, this will save recipients a lot of money — every year in the United States, $4 billion is spent on the diagnosis and treatment of HPV infections and associated diseases. The treatment of genital warts alone costs Americans $200 million a year — and while the warts can be treated, they can never be cured and can keep coming back. Furthermore, widespread vaccination in the United States, even if not everyone has access, might build a “herd immunity” that will help protect those who were unable to receive the vaccine.

One problem with the book is that it was published in 2008 — a scant two years after the vaccine’s debut. Some information is outdated — such as the repeated mentions that Cervarix is not yet available in the United States and that Gardasil hasn’t been approved for use in males. The book could also benefit from updates with the latest information about the vaccine’s efficacy. Although we won’t have more definitive information about the vaccine’s efficacy for another 20 to 35 years, we are still learning more information about it as studies are conducted at a furious pace. A book on such a new vaccine demands periodic updates.

As for the subtitle, there is a lot of information here about sex and cancer, but not too much about God or politics. While these issues are touched upon, the book will disappoint those less interested in the science and health aspects of HPV and more interested in the virus’ politicization.

Overall, this is an excellent resource for anyone considering vaccination, as well as those who have already been exposed to HPV. The author crafts a good argument against the claims that Gardasil will make girls go wild when she points out that other STIs as well as pregnancy are still risks of sexual activity. And the evidence-based, no-nonsense presentation of facts should clear up any misunderstandings that someone suspicious about Gardasil might have about the virus, its symptoms, and vaccination in general. Lastly, it provides detailed information about the virus and its ability to induce cellular abnormalities, which is helpful for anyone living with a chronic HPV infection.

Gardasil is one of two HPV vaccines. It protects against two cancer-causing strains of HPV and two wart-causing strains.

You’ve probably heard a lot about the HPV vaccine, which protects against the sexually transmitted pathogen human papillomavirus — which itself can lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, throat, and more. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine, such as Michele Bachmann’s debunked claim that it causes mental retardation. But, even before Bachmann gave us her two cents, there have been plenty of falsehoods flying around about the HPV vaccine.

Myth: Vaccination against HPV will increase sexual promiscuity among vaccine recipients.

Fact: Studies show that this fear is unfounded.

A study published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine contradicts this claim. In a group of more than 4,000 young females, there was no significant difference between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated in terms of number of sexual partners or the age at which sexual activity began.

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There are around 150 strains of HPV, about 15 of which can cause cancer. Together, HPV-16 and HPV-18 cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers.

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Besides, the vast majority of teenagers who choose abstinence do so for reasons other than a fear of contracting HPV. Additionally, HPV is one of many sexually transmitted infections (STIs); if fear of contracting an STI were the only factor in teenagers’ celibacy, a vaccine that protected against only one STI would not remove this fear.

(It might bear pointing out that when the HPV vaccine was approved for boys and men, fears about male promiscuity didn’t seem to run as rampant.)

Myth: Because the HPV vaccine only protects against two cancer-causing strains of HPV, it isn’t useful in cancer prevention.

Fact: The two cancer-causing strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against account for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Furthermore, Gardasil protects against two additional strains of HPV, which together are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.

There are around 150 strains of HPV, about 15 of which can cause cancer. Together, HPV-16 and HPV-18 cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers. (Additionally, HPV-16 causes the vast majority of anal cancer.) It is true that the vaccine isn’t targeted against less-common strains of HPV, which is why it doesn’t substitute for regular Pap tests. It does, however, provide protection against the most common causes of cervical cancer — and along with that, it will reduce the frequency of abnormal Pap results that necessitate more invasive procedures.

Interestingly, there is a growing body of evidence that Gardasil offers a small degree of cross-protection against non-target HPV strains, which together are responsible for 20 percent of cervical cancers. While Gardasil’s apparent efficacy against these less-common strains isn’t nearly as strong as its demonstrated efficacy against HPV-16 and HPV-18, it does add some benefit.

Some people think the less-common HPV strains will just replace HPV-16 and HPV-18, but a recent study of 2,702 men found that an infection with HPV-16 or HPV-18 did not affect the likelihood of infection with another cancer-causing type. Other studies on females have shown the same results.

According to researchers at the University of Hawaii, so far there is no good information about whether some strains of HPV are transmitted more easily than others, but their small study seemed to suggest that HPV-16 was easier to transmit into the cervix than other strains.

One hopes that more research will determine if the HPV strains targeted by the vaccine are transmitted more efficiently than other types. Thus far, however, it appears that preventing infection with HPV-16 or HPV-18 will not open up a niche for other cancer-causing HPV strains.

Myth: The HPV vaccine has caused death in some of its recipients.

Fact: While some people have died after receiving the vaccine, their deaths were not caused by it.

Tens of millions of doses of Gardasil have been administered, and at last count, there were 71 deaths reported among Gardasil recipients. Thirty-four of these reported deaths have been confirmed by investigators, and these deaths were not found to have been caused by the vaccine. In any given population, especially in a large population, there will be some deaths. Correlation, however, does not equal causation.

The same goes for injuries reported to be correlated with any given vaccine. When a vaccine recipient has a problem following vaccination, these problems are usually found by investigators to be coincidental. The HPV vaccine has been found to be safe, with very few side effects. There is “strong,” but not “convincing,” evidence that some people might experience an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database collects claims of adverse events from anyone — health-care providers, patients, or family members. According to their website, “for any reported event, no cause-and-effect relationship has been established. Reports of all possible associations between vaccines and adverse events (possible side effects) are filed in VAERS. Therefore, VAERS collects data on any adverse event following vaccination, be it coincidental or truly caused by a vaccine. The report of an adverse event to VAERS is not documentation that a vaccine caused the event.”

From the outside, the synthetic virus-like particles in Gardasil are indistinguishable from HPV. On the inside, however, the synthetic particles are empty while the viruses contain DNA. Image: University of Arizona

Myth: There is human papillomavirus DNA in Gardasil.

Fact: Gardasil consists of empty protein shells. The infectious portions of HPV’s genetic code are not involved in its manufacture.

HPV is composed of two main components: a protein shell and a double-stranded DNA molecule. Both HPV vaccines contain synthetic versions of the protein shell, which is sufficient to induce an immune response. These protein shells were not obtained from actual viruses but rather were manufactured in a laboratory; they do not include DNA and are not infectious. In the manufacture of Gardasil, the shells are synthesized by yeast that has been genetically modified to express only the HPV gene that codes for the protein shells.

In short, the yeast used to produce the virus-like particles does not contain the genetic material necessary to produce the virus’ DNA molecule. It only has the HPV gene that produces the virus’ protein shell. Claims that the vaccine contains infectious particles are false.

Myth: The HPV vaccine is only approved for ages 9 to 26, but cervical cancer rarely affects this age group. Therefore, the vaccine will have no impact on cervical-cancer rates.

Fact: Cervical cancer usually appears later in life because the cancer takes a long time to develop.

The HPV vaccine is most effective if it is administered before the recipient becomes sexually active. It is true that cervical cancer mostly affects people older than 26, but this is because a chronic HPV infection, acquired earlier in life, usually takes decades to develop into cancer. Fifty to 75 percent of HPV infections occur between the ages of 15 and 25, while cervical cancer is most common among 35- to 50-year-olds.

Because the vaccine is so new, we aren’t quite sure yet how long the vaccine is effective — but according to the National Cancer Institute, the vaccines have been shown to protect against persistent HPV-16 and HPV-18 infections for up to five to eight years. As time goes on and more data are collected, we should have a better understanding of how long the vaccine provides protection and whether or not booster shots will be needed.

Myth: Cervical cancer is a relatively rare cancer whose rates have been declining for decades. Therefore, the vaccine is unnecessary.

Fact: Cervical cancer rates have been declining among women with access to Pap tests, but cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in other parts of the world.

In countries with widespread access to health care, cervical cancer is on the decline due to the availability of Pap tests, a procedure that can detect abnormal cell growth in the cervix. If abnormal cell growth is detected before it spreads beyond the surface epithelium of the cervix and into the underlying connective tissues, it can be treated before it turns into invasive cancer. At this stage, it is almost always curable. In the United States, half of cervical-cancer deaths occur among women who have never had a Pap test; in countries without widespread access to Pap tests, cervical cancer remains a major cause of death. According to the World Health Organization, it’s the second most common cancer among the female population worldwide.

Even when chronic HPV infection is detected while still in a precancerous stage, it necessitates invasive medical procedures such as colposcopy and cryotherapy. Vaccination against HPV decreases the occurrence of precancerous lesions, which is a benefit in and of itself!

Planned Parenthood health centers, as well as other clinics and health-care providers, offer both Pap tests and the HPV vaccine. More information about the vaccine is available from Planned Parenthood and the National Cancer Institute.

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Planned Parenthood offers cancer screening and family-planning options for men, as well as an array of services that include cholesterol screening, diabetes screening, and even smoking cessation.

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Sexually active people should be screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — even if your partner has negative test results, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, so you can’t rely on your significant other to provide your STI screening “by proxy.” Especially because so many STIs are asymptomatic, it’s better to get yourself tested. We can screen and treat for STIs, as well as offer preventive vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Most people associate the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, with females, since HPV is behind 99 percent of cervical cancers. But males can benefit from Gardasil as well. Not only will they be protecting their partners, but they will also be protecting themselves from the viruses that can cause precancerous penile lesions as well as the majority of genital warts and anal cancers.

Men’s services also include life-saving cancer screening — we can check you out for prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, or testicular cancer. We can also evaluate penile lesions, which might lead to penile cancer if left untreated. These might not be the kind of check-ups anyone looks forward to, but they represent the kind of preventive health care that can save your life — or just your money — down the road.

We can also treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Most people think of women when they think of UTIs, but these infections can affect men as well and are just as painful. Luckily, antibiotics don’t recognize gender, so UTIs are just as easy to treat in males as they are in females.

And, of course, Planned Parenthood is indelibly associated with its mission to put the power of family planning into the hands of individuals and couples. For most of history, the birth-control burden has fallen on women’s shoulders. This is still the case today, as evidenced by the wide variety of options women have to control their reproductive destinies, from diaphragms and IUDs to a plethora of permutations on hormonal birth-control methods. These technological advances have done worlds of good for all females of reproductive age — but that doesn’t mean that guys aren’t similarly empowered to control their reproductive destinies. Whether you just want to come down to a health care center to pick up some condoms, or have an in-depth talk about your birth control options with our staff, a Planned Parenthood near you can meet your needs.

Finally, Planned Parenthood Arizona offers general-health services to both male and female clients, such as cholesterol screening, diabetes screening, thyroid testing, liver/renal function screening, and even smoking cessation. We offer the flu shot, too!

We take most insurance plans, provide discounted cash pricing, and also have Title X federally funded services available to those who qualify. Men can support Planned Parenthood’s dedication to preventive health care and make an appointment at one of their 13 health centers in Arizona.

For more information on our men’s health services, please visit online at www.ppazhookup.org.