First thing I will do is recommend that every woman age 26 or younger go and get the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. If you have a daughter or a niece or know someone between the ages of 9 and 26, I recommend you talk to them about getting this vaccine. It will protect women against 4 types of the Human Papilloma virus - these types cause 70% of cervical cancer and 90% of genital warts. It works best if one has been vaccinated before first sexual contact. The Merck site recommends that it be done before exposure to the virus, but in practical terms that means what I said - before first sexual contact. The rates of HPV infection are extremely high, particularly among teens, and it's not a disease that necessarily shows symptoms.
Not all insurance companies will cover this vaccine, I'm sure. I know for a fact that some do, so please call yours and find out. The cost of Gardasil is $360 for 3 injections over 6 months, so it may be possible to afford without insurance, but is a serious expenditure. It also seems that some doctors' offices will ask for out-of-pocket payment to be reimbursed after the insurance company pays them. If your insurance company let you know that you are covered, I would recommend that you try to get the vaccine even with this method. The CDC has a good comprehensive site about Gardasil and some low-cost alternatives for children. Merck also seems to have a vaccine patient assistance program.
Now get out there and find out!
