Cervical cancer affects less than 1 percent of American women, although vaccines can bring this number down even more. The vaccine Gardasil was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2006. Another vaccine, Cervarix, was approved in October 2009, and has limited preliminary data regarding adverse reactions. All vaccines can carry side effects that range from mild to dangerous.
Fainting
Fainting as a side effect of cervical cancer vaccination occurs in about 13 percent of cases, according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Fainting occurs with other vaccines at about the same rate as with Gardasil, and is usually considered a psychogenic reaction. Psychogenic fainting can occur from a fear of needles, fear of doctors, fear of disease, rapid rise and fall in adrenalin and hyperventilation. Although fainting itself is not dangerous to the body, the subsequent fall can result in broken bones and serious head injury. Doctors recommend that patients sit down for at least 15 minutes after vaccination to prevent fainting.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are a dangerous yet rare side effect from the cervical cancer vaccine. In the August 2009 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association," Dr. Barabara Slade and associates reported that there were 56 cases of blood clots precipitated by the Gardasil vaccine. Nineteen of these cases resulted in a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of blood flow from the lungs to the heart, and resulted in four fatalities. Overall, blood clots occur in less than 1 percent of Gardasil vaccination cases. Women taking estrogen-based birth control are at a higher risk for developing blood clots from the vaccine. Other significant risk factors are obesity and limited mobility.
Guillaine-Barre Syndrome
Guillaine-Barre Syndrome is another rare but serious side effect that can occur from the cervical cancer vaccine. As of August 2009, there have been 42 cases of Guillaine-Barre Syndrome associated with the vaccine. This condition is a reaction of the immune system that attacks the body's peripheral nerves, spinal roots and cranial nerves. It is incurable and has serious long-term symptoms, including difficulty with bladder control, digestion, chewing and swallowing, eye movement and speech. Other long-term symptoms include limb paralysis, low blood pressure and severe back pain.
References
- Food and Drug Administration: Information Pertaining to Labeling Revision for Gardasil
- "The Journal of the American Medical Association": Postlicensure Safety Surveillance for Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine
- Medical News Today: What is Guillaine-Barre Syndrome
- Drugs.com: Gardasil Side Effects
