GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — Glenwood Medical Associates is taking steps to educate the public about the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine and its effectiveness in preventing cancer.

A free talk on the topic, with refreshments, takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, in the GMA lobby.

The purpose of the HPV vaccine Gardasil is to protect women's health by preventing cervical cancer. Strains of the virus can cause cervical cancer and genital warts, a common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. Men can contract genital warts, and the STD can lead to penile cancer.

Gardasil is the first-ever cancer-preventative vaccine of any kind.

"This is so big. When I look back over my career there has never been a vaccine for cancer," said Mary Harrel Lawrence, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in family practice at GMA. "We just never had this - it's just so amazing. In the world, HPV is the second leading cause of cancer in women."

At least 50 percent of sexually active people will be diagnosed with HPV in their lives. Every year in the U.S., about 6.2 million people are diagnosed with HPV - most commonly in young women and men in their late teens and early 20s.

The human papilloma virus is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center recently discovered HPV is the major cause of throat, tongue and tonsil cancers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ideally, females should receive the vaccine before they are sexually active or before they have been exposed to the virus. The vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections, genital warts, precancers or cancers.

A Spanish-speaking interpreter will be on hand, as well as representatives from Mountain Family Health, Planned Parenthood, Youth Recovery Center and Colorado Mountain College. Garfield County and Eagle County nurses will answer questions about vaccine costs and dosing schedule.

The Garfield County Public Health Department is offering the shots for $10 each for females ages 9-18. For women ages 19-26, shots are $135 each. Glenwood Medical Associates is also offering the vaccine, at a cost of $200 each. Not all insurance companies cover the cost of the vaccine, although many are starting to participate, Lawrence said.