Your Questions Answered

What is the Cervical Vaccine Clinic?
The Cervical Vaccine Clinic is a unique partnership between the experienced GPs of Guilsborough Surgery and Consultant Gynaecologist Mr Clive Aldrich.

The Clinic offers you the unique opportunity to both discuss the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil® in detail, and also receive the vaccine, all under one roof.

What is the Guilsborough Surgery?
Guilsborough Surgery is a large and progressive rural practice, offering a wide range care including cervical screening, family planning, female health care and vaccination programmes for their female patients, of all ages.

Who is Mr Clive Aldrich?
Mr Clive Aldrich DM FRCOG is a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician and lead specialist consultant of The Cervical Vaccine Clinic

What Services Does The Clinic Offer?
The Cervical Vaccine Clinic primarily offers advice on the cervical cancer vaccine, and also offers consultations and advice on many aspects of women’s health issues.

Who Will I See At The Cervical Vaccine Clinic?
The GPs at Guilsborough will see young women aged between 9 and 15 years, to discuss the cervical cancer vaccine. An experienced practice nurse will administer the vaccine.

Mr Aldrich will focus on women aged between 16 and 26, and can also discuss a range of concerns related to cervical conditions. Your cervical cancer vaccine will be administered by a practice nurse.

As a responsible Clinic following GMC guidelines, we recommend a chaperone to be present for all internal examinations.

Do I Need Private Medical Insurance To Visit The Cervical Vaccine Clinic?
No, you can come for a consultation at any time, and finance your treatment yourself if you wish. The first vaccination costs include the consultation time too, so the price you see is the price you pay. Click here for full details of the Clinic’s vaccination programme and fees

Do I Need A Referral From My GP To Have A Consultation?
Not necessarily. The Cervical Vaccine Clinic will happily take referrals from GPs, but you can also contact the Clinic direct for an appointment.

Is My GP Kept Informed?
Your GP will be informed of the result of any consultation, unless you specifically request otherwise.

Who is at Risk from Cervical Cancer?
Since HPV is sexually transmitted, all sexually active women are potentially at risk. HPV sub-types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. All types of HPV virus can cause genital warts, so both men and women are potentially at risk from these types as well.

Who is the Cervical Cancer Vaccine for?
The vaccine is of most benefit to women aged between 16 and 26, as it can protect against the types of HPV that cause both cervical cancer and genital warts.

Whilst most women may actually contract the virus during their lifetime, few will know they ever had it, as the infection clears itself. However, some will be affected and develop abnormal cervix lining cells if they are not vaccinated. Click here for further information on who needs the cervical cancer vaccine

The Gardasil® Vaccine is Available for Children; why?
All vaccinations are designed to promote the body’s natural immunity against infections and diseases, so they are a prevention method, not a cure.

Girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 15 should be vaccinated to protect them from infection in later life, and promote their future sexual health.

Does the Vaccine replace the Cervical Smear test?
No. It is important to continue your regular cervical smear tests, as only 70% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Cervical smears enable your GP to detect any abnormalities in your cervical cells, regardless of the cause.

Early detection ensures that treatment can usually be given in time to combat the onset of cervical cancer.

Is the Gardasil® vaccine safe?
Gardasil® may be a new vaccine, but it has been extensively tested, has a 100% success rate in clinical trials, and appears to have no major side effects. Click for more information on Gardasil®

Do I Need to Go to Hospital to have a Cervical Cancer Vaccination?
No. You can come to The Cervical Vaccine Clinic for your vaccination, and walk away from your first appointment and vaccination or HPV test within 30 minutes. Click for full details of The Cervical Vaccine Clinic’s vaccination programme and fees

How Long Does the Vaccine Last?
At this early stage it is unknown and, like many other vaccines, there may be a need for a booster after 5 or 10 years.

What Happens if I already have HPV?
Testing for HPV is offered to all sexually active patients. If you test positive for all of the four HPV strains, the vaccine is unlikely to be effective. You will be able to discuss the implications of this with Mr Aldrich or one of the four highly experienced GPs at The Cervical Vaccine Clinic. If you test positive for up to three strains of HPV, the vaccine will still be effective and can be administered, but we would recommend that in addition, you will also require closer follow up checks.

Is There an Alternative Vaccine to Gardasil®?
Others are known be be in the final stages of development with Cervarix, the bivalent HPV 16/18 vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, expected to be released in 2007.

As leaders in this exciting field, The Cervical Vaccine Clinic will keep you informed on new developments and will offer the best solution at all times.

Where Can I find More Information?
Click this link to visit the The British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology offers a wealth of information for women.