A vaccine that blocks infection by the two types of viruses that cause most cases of cervical cancer is safe and effective and should be approved, a federal panel recommended Thursday.

The latest update on Gardasil (forbes.com) sounds like good news for every woman... this is what your pap smear's looking out for. but its apparently only recommended for young women under 26 years of age, which sucks for most of the women out there who have been waiting for this with bated breath and who have been enduring pap smears for years. well, at least our daughters will be protected.

but what's this about birth defects?