Many women on campus can recognize the slogan, “I want to be one less.”

That is, one less woman with cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus – HPV.

The slogan is part of Merck & Co. Inc.’s national advertising campaign for Gardasil, the HPV vaccine they launched in 2006.

While students may be familiar with the dangers of HPV causing genital warts and cervical cancer, many are not fully aware of the virus’ other implications.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that HPV is associated with many cancers,” said Margaret Cramer , lead physician at the University Health Center’s Women’s Clinic.

Researchers suspect that oral sex may be a form of HPV transmission, according to a new study from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

“We looked at smoking trends over time,” said Erich Sturgis, associate professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

“It’s clear that cigarette consumption per capita has dropped the past 40 years,” he said.

But what wasn’t clear was why the number of cases of throat and mouth cancers hasn’t dropped, Sturgis said.

“We wanted to look at the subgroup (of HPV),” he said.

Additional research shows HPV causes up to 72 percent of cancer cases in the oropharynx and oral cavity, according to UpToDate, a review of journals.

One study found a high number of sex partners, 26 or more, and a high number of oral sex partners, six or more, significantly was associated with oropharyngeal cancer.

Though the link that oral sex transmits HPV hasn’t been proven, Sturgis still encourages people to take preventative measures.

“Women who have abnormal pap smears should refrain from having oral sex,” Sturgis said.

But, Debbie Saslow, director of breast and gynecologic cancers for the American Cancer Society, did not agree with Sturgis’ suggestion.

“We do know that certain HPV types do cause cancers,” Saslow said. “But, there is no proof HPV is transmitted through oral sex.”

As for refraining from oral sex after an abnormal pap, Saslow said, “most abnormal pap tests aren’t HPV related.”

Saslow said hard data will be coming in from more studies and hopes boys will start getting the HPV vaccine, too.

Other Results of HPV

Apart from being linked to various cancers, HPV can cause respiratory infections.

While the infections caused by HPV are uncommon, they remain well documented.

Strains 13 and 32 of HPV can cause Heck’s disease, a disease that causes lesions in the mouth and throat.

It is very common in children and usually disappears without treatment.

Research provided by UpToDate also suggests that HPV also can infect Epstein-Barr virus-induced oral, hairy leukoplakia lesions in HIV-infected individuals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Epstein-Barr virus is one of the most common viruses and is transmitted through saliva from an infected person.

MCG Men’s Health Study

Australia is one country that didn’t need data justification to offer the HPV vaccine to men.

But once nationwide studies are concluded, HPV vaccines may be available to men in the U.S.

“We’re trying to see that it’s good for men,” said Aileen Lopez, clinical research coordinator at the Medical College of Georgia.

Lopez said the men’s health study at MCG for Gardasil began in 2004 and will end soon. The data will then go to Merck and the Federal Drug Administration for the approval process, she said.

Men were of particular concern since many men unknowingly carry HPV. The most common form of HPV for men is genital warts, which can appear within several weeks, months or years after having sex with an infected person. While HPV can be transmitted through sex, HPV also can be passed through close contact with a person with warts.

HPV is connected with causing premalignant lesions of the penis and can lead to cancer.

For a small percentage of men, HPV can lead to precancerous cells or cancer of the penis or anal canal. In one study, 27 to 71 percent of men with penile cancer had HPV. Uncircumcised men were found to be at a higher risk for HPV by 19 percent versus 5 percent of circumcised men.

Gardasil – HPV Vaccine

There are more than 100 types of HPV, and 15 are classified as high-risk.

While Gardasil only protects against strains 6, 11, 16 and 18, strains 6 and 11 cause 90 percent of genital warts and strains 16 and 18 cause 70 percent of cervical cancers.

Apart from combating cervical cancer, the vaccine also attacks genital warts as well as abnormal and precancerous cervical, vaginal and vulvar lesions.

Gardasil does not provide protection if someone already has been exposed to HPV.

The vaccination can be effective for up to four years after inoculation.

The vaccine is offered in a series of three doses over six months. Students can get the vaccine for $156 per dose at the University Health Center and can call 542-5575 to make an appointment.