Frequently asked questions about the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Diem Thuy - Vaccine Consultant - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

HPV is one of the sexually transmitted viruses. There are different types of HPV. Some types can cause serious health problems, including cervical cancer in women. However, there is now a vaccine to prevent HPV.

Cervical cancer is a malignant lesion that develops in the cervix in many forms: buds, warts, ulcers, polyps, or infiltrates, which bleed easily.
Cancer occurs when cervical cells change and grow abnormally in an uncontrolled way. Cervical cancer can be locally invasive or spread to other organs of the body and cause death.
According to studies, more than 99% of cervical cancer cases have the presence of a virus called Human papillomavirus of the high-risk type.
Human papillomavirus, also known as HPV virus, is a virus with more than 100 types, of which about 15 are capable of causing cancer, called the "high-risk" type and the most common are HPV types 16 and 18. causes more than 70% of cervical cancer cases globally, followed by types 31 and 45.

HPV is sexually transmitted. It is possible to get HPV from an infected person through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. The disease can be completely transmitted to healthy people even if the infected person does not have any signs or symptoms of the disease.
HPV infection does not depend on the number of sexual partners. You can still get HPV even if you have only one person. The risk of infection is higher not only for HPV but also for other STIs if you have multiple sex partners.
HPV is resistant to heat and to dry conditions. Therefore, this virus is also transmitted non-sexually such as nail clippers, biopsy needles, underwear...
HPV can be transmitted vertically from mother to baby during childbirth and causes multiple birth defects. respiratory papillomatosis.

Depending on the ability to cause cancer, people divide HPV strains into 2 groups:
Low-risk HPV group: Only causes warts on the limbs, genital warts, genital papilloma. respiratory or oral epithelial hyperplasia. High-risk HPV group: There are about 15 strains of high-risk HPV, which can persist for a long time, causing abnormal and uncontrolled changes in cervical cells, causing lesions from low and high levels. then progress to cervical cancer and other cancers. This process can take more than 10 years.

Vaccination: The HPV vaccine is very safe and effective in preventing the disease. Cervical cancer vaccination for subjects in the age group recommended vaccination helps this subject resist diseases caused by HPV virus.
Routine cervical cancer screening: Routine screening for women between the ages of 21 and 65 can help prevent cervical cancer.
When having sex: Using condoms correctly at all times reduces the risk of HPV infection, but HPV can spread to areas not covered by the condom, so you must be aware that condoms may not be able to fully protect you from HPV; Being faithful to a single, monogamous partner also helps limit the risk of HPV transmission.

A full course of cervical cancer vaccination is very important to achieve effective HPV prevention
Complete course of cervical cancer vaccination is very important to achieve effective HPV prevention. Two types of HPV vaccines are used in Vietnam, including: Gardasil (USA) and Cervarix (Belgium).
These two vaccines have some basic differences in the number of preventable HPV strains, the target population, the vaccination schedule, and the preventive effect.
Gardasil vaccine:
Prevents 4 types of HPV that are 6, 11, 16 and 18; The age of injection for women is from 9 years old to 26 years old; This vaccine requires 3 injections to prevent cervical cancer: 1st dose is the day of the first injection; dose 2 is 2 months after the first dose; 3rd dose is 6 months after the first dose. Cervarix vaccine:
Prevents 2 types of HPV (16 and 18); The age of injection for women is from 10 years old to 25 years old; This vaccine also requires 3 injections against cervical cancer: 1st dose is the day of the first injection; dose 2 is 1 month after the first dose; 3rd dose is 6 months after the first dose.

Cervical cancer vaccination should not be given during pregnancy or planning to become pregnant within the next 6 months and breast-feeding.
If you are pregnant during the period of HPV vaccination, you need to stop the vaccination. After giving birth, only the next injections are given, but the time to complete all 3 injections must not exceed 2 years.
If you miss the cervical cancer vaccine and find out that you are pregnant, there is no recommendation to terminate the pregnancy.

There is no need to have an HPV test and a pap smear before deciding to get the HPV vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is quite safe, has been studied, and is still being monitored. Possible side effects include:
Hot, red, painful swelling at the injection site. Mild fever. Other rare side effects include headache, fainting, transverse myelitis (very rare). Therefore, after vaccination against cervical cancer caused by HPV, women need to stay at the injection site for 30 minutes and continue to monitor the following days at home.

The protective effect of HPV vaccine lasts after 3 shots are completed. There is no recommendation that booster shots are needed after these 3 injections.

Men and women are both susceptible to HPV infection and normal transmission of the disease, and it is not only women who contract this virus. HPV is transmitted from women to men through the following ways:
Having sex too early, having unprotected sex Having many sex partners Having sex with a partner who has had many other partners Genital warts are a of the typical manifestations of HPV infection in men. Genital warts, also known as genital warts, appear in the genital area of ​​men such as: foreskin, penis body, urethral mouth, scrotum, perianal, pubic area... This acne is: Acne can be raised or flat, small or large; painless...
When screening for cervical cancer at Vinmec, customers can apply the ThinPrep Pap Test for early detection of cervical cancer, the method approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (US Food and Drug Administration) FDA) approved for use in May 1996. This new method is currently being used widely in the US and Europe. ThinPrep Pap Test has changed the traditional Pap smear method, through membrane controlled cell transfer technology, increasing the sensitivity and specificity in detecting precancerous cells. , especially glandular epithelial cells, a type of cancer cell that is difficult to detect. At the same time, it is possible to perform an HPV test to identify women infected with high-risk HPV groups that cause cervical cancer.
Reference sources: Bvydhue.com and Cih.com.vn