10 things you should know before HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer

10 things you should know before HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer

1.How HPV vaccine can prevent us from cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is caused by viral infection, namely HPV (Human Papillomavirus) which can be infected via sexual intercourse. The virus will interrupt the cervical cell and cause them to become tumor or cancer. Receiving HPV vaccination can effectively prevent us from cervical cancer at a success rate of 70%.

2.Do we need to be tested for HPV before vaccination?

According to the recommendations of the US Immunization Board, no abnormal condition can be detected for young women who go for a regular cervical screening test called a Pap Smear Test. They do not need to receive any more HPV testing prior to vaccination. In the present, the tools are still limited as similar as the ready hospitals that can provide services for HPV infection testing which make identifying the strain of the virus become difficult and costly which is not worth, compared to the cost of getting vaccinated. In case of an abnormal Pap smear result is detected, the doctor will give advice on how to cure it before getting vaccinated. It is still necessary to check the "Pap smear" regularly because the HPV vaccine cannot provides comprehensive protection against all other types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer.

3.Is HPV vaccine able to effectively protect us from cervical cancer at 100% success rate?

In fact, We have discovered that 99.7% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV, a virus that transmitted mainly through sexual contact. This led to the development of the HPV vaccine, which can effectively prevent at 70% success rate of the major infections that cause cervical cancer. There are some HPV that this vaccine is ineffective against. However, vaccine work very well for those who have not been exposed to the virus contained in the vaccine. The first successfully produced HPV vaccine and has been used in more than 80 countries around the world, covering HPV types 16 and 18 which are the major species that cause vaginal cancer and cervical cancer about 70% success rate and can also prevent infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which causes of genital warts at 90% success rate.

4.Are those women who have had sex still able to get the HPV vaccine?

For women who have had sex can still get vaccinated, but it may not be effective at maximum protection compared to those who have never had sex before. However, It can still provide protection against infection with some of the other HPV strains included in the vaccine.

5.Which age is recommended to get vaccinated?

Because HPV vaccine show the most effect in cases where there has never been contact with the pathogens. So it is recommended to be injected in girls or teenage girls. This is a precaution before having sex for the first time. According to the recommendation of the Immunization Committee, the United States has approved its use in girls and young women ages between 9-26 that the vaccine can effectively prevent cervical cancer caused by the main HPV-16 and 18 strains in those who have never been infected. as mentioned before. In many other leading countries, the vaccine is considered compulsory in girls and adolescent girls ages around 11-12 years as a pre-exposure protection. Due to the statistics  record of HPV infection around the world, it was found that the a group of 18 – 28 years old is commonly got infected and the HPV can take up to 10 years to form before it shows abnormal symptoms and cancerous which is the solid reason for explaining that patients with this disease whose age current between 35 – 50 years may actually have the onset of this disease since youth.

6. Is it safe to get the girl vaccinated?

The research results have confirmed that this vaccine type is very safe because it is a synthetic vaccine mimics the structure of HPV without bringing any component of its strain used for vaccine production. It can create immunity against HPV as soon as it enters body. The serious side effects are very rare. The results also showed that vaccination in girls had a higher immunization response than in adults.

7.Can we still get vaccinated after we have got over 26 years old?

Theoretically, the HPV vaccine works at its most effectiveness as you have never been exposed to the virus or never have had sex. The immunity level is even higher if the vaccine is given in childhood while making decision whether to get vaccinated or not is up to personal judgment in terms of the cost-effectiveness or lower the risk of cervical cancer through vaccination because the benefits that will be obtained from the vaccine depend on the individual's preexisting HPV infection condition. Generally, the infection can be spread individually. Not all species can infect the host at the same time. Therefore, being vaccinated can still protect against infection with other HPV strains in the uninfected vaccine. However, it is reccomended to consult your doctor for further information for a clear understanding before considering vaccination.

8.Can pregnant woman or breastfeeding women get vaccinated?

Those women are strictly not recommended to get vaccinated.

.For instance, If you become pregnant during the second or third dose of vaccination, the injection should be stopped immediately and come back for the 2nd of 3rd  dose right after giving birth without starting it again. However, regarding to reports, the vaccine is not harmful to babies born to mothers who were vaccinated during pregnancy. Consequently, those women who are being under breastfeeding period can get vaccinated.

9.Which body part will get vaccinated and is there any side effect or not?

The vaccination is injected into the upper arm muscle. Harmful side effects are minimal. Most of them are common symptoms such as pain, swelling, slight redness at the injection spot or may have a fever in some cases After the injection, it is advisable to sit down and observe the symptoms for about 30 minutes before going home.

10.How many doses of this vaccine should be taken and how long will it be effective?

3 dose in Total must be taken within 6 months. According to the present, for a period of 5 years, it was found that the efficiency of the immune system was high. Currently, the study of the duration of prevention is ongoing. It is likely found that the HPV vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognize and build immunity to the HPV strains present in the vaccine. This is like the hepatitis B vaccine where the duration of immunity is still unknown at the early stages. But later it was found that the immune system can last a lifetime without booster injections.

Authored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wichai Termrungruanglert, M.D.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University