Updated 4/1/19 The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually-transmitted virus that increases the risk of genital warts and several cancers, including those of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, and throat. HPV can be spread by skin-to-skin contact...
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently published a committee opinion for women of population risk to develop ovarian cancer. ACOG recommends that average risk women who are having gynecological surgery, such as removal of their uterus...
Last week in Genetic Privacy Part 1, we discussed the potential harm done when a patient chooses not to share her data with other family members. Such arguments, and the argument that widely sharing genetic data would advance scientific research, have made some...
The debate about who should have access to genetic test results has been argued for decades. There are many factors to consider, including: individual rights, the rights of family members, medical liability, insurance issues, and the betterment of scientific research....
It is well-known that women who carry a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at high risk to develop breast cancer (50-85% lifetime risk) and ovarian cancer (15-60% lifetime risk). Because the screening options for ovarian cancer (transvaginal ultrasound, the blood test...
This week JAMA published a viewpoint on whether life insurers should have access to genetic test results and, understandably, it unearthed some long-standing fears about genetic discrimination. We do have protection from some forms of such discrimination under the...