An Australian vaccine designed to fight cervical cancer has the ability to protect middle-aged women in addition to young girls against HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer.

However, Australia's Cancer Council has raised concerns that the vaccine may not be effective in preventing cancer in women who are already sexually active and potentially exposed to HPV

The province of Ontario will begin offering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to girls in the 8th grade, at no cost, starting this fall. HPV, which is sexually transmitted, causes cervical cancer.

Girls in Ontario will have the option to get the Gardasil vaccine at no cost, but will not be required to do so. Public health nurses will provide the vaccine, which is comprised of a three-shot course of treatment, at schools

Nova Scotia in Canada has become the first province in the country to launch a publicly funded vaccination program to protect young girls from the human papilloma virus (HPV).

On Wednesday, it was announced that beginning in the fall, Grade 7 girls will be given doses of the vaccine as part of a school based vaccination program. The vaccines are not mandatory and will require a consent form

A strong link has been found between the onset of throat cancer and engaging in oral sex, according to the latest study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine."

"Oral HPV infection is strongly associated with oropharyngeal [oral] cancer among subjects with or without the established risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use," write Dr. D'Souza and colleagues in their summary statement

Texas state lawmakers shot down Governor Rick Perry's executive order on Wednesday that would have forced all sixth grade school girls in 2008 to be required to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.

Texas lawmakers rejected his anti-cancer order by sending Perry a bill that would block state officials from having to adhere to the requirement for at least the next four years