What I learned today - the HPV/Cervical Cancer edition

50% of women contract an HPV infection within 36 months of their first intercourse

80% of women will be infected with HPV at some point in their liftetime

10 women develop cervical cancer every single day in the United States

the FDA has scheduled a review of Merck's HPV vaccine for May 18 with an 'Action Date' of June 8 (so look for an announcement sometime this summer!)

Just like a flu vaccine, the HPV vaccine includes several different viral strains, one of which is the primary cause of a specific type of lesion that develops in the throat and blocks the airway. Currently this condition requires an average of 4 surgeries a year to maintain a clear airway. The religious right may want to punish sexually active women, but maybe they'll be reasonable about the other possible effects of HPV infection.