Did you know that cervical cancer is now the 12th most common cancer diagnosed in Georgia women? The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, and it can lead to cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine vaccination for HPV for females aged 11-12 years old. A catch-up vaccine is recommended for females aged 13-26 who have not been vaccinated or who have not completed the full vaccine series.
What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is common in the United States and around the world and can cause cancer and genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. There are about 100 types of HPV and 13 of these may cause or are associated with cervical cancer. HPV is the major cause of 99% of cervical cancers in women and is also associated with several other types of cancer in both men and women.
Why are HPV vaccines needed?
Certain human papillomavirus (HPV) types cause cancer, including: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal (base of the tongue, tonsils and back of throat) cancers. Certain HPV types also cause most cases of genital warts in men and women.
HPV is a common virus that is easily spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity with another person. It is possible to have HPV without knowing it, so it is possible to unknowingly spread HPV to another person. HPV vaccine is a strong weapon in prevention. These safe, effective vaccines are available to protect females and males against some of the most common HPV types and the health problems that the virus can cause.
Who should get HPV vaccine?
Cervarix and Gardasil are licensed, safe, and effective for females ages 9 through 26 years. CDC recommends that all 11 or 12 year old girls get the 3 doses (shots) of either brand of HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against most genital warts, as well as some cancers of the vulva, vagina and anus. Girls and young women ages 13 through 26 should get HPV vaccine if they have not received any or all doses when they were younger.
Gardasil is also licensed, safe, and effective for males ages 9 through 26 years. CDC recommends Gardasil for all boys aged 11 or 12 years, and for males aged 13 through 21 years, who did not get any or all of the three recommended doses when they were younger. All men may receive the vaccine through age 26, and should speak with their doctor to find out if getting vaccinated is right for them.
The vaccine is also recommended for gay and bisexual men (or any man who has sex with men) and men with compromised immune systems (including HIV) through age 26, if they did not get fully vaccinated when they were younger.
Why is HPV vaccine recommended at ages 11 or 12 years?
For the HPV vaccine to work best, it is very important for preteens to get all 3 doses (shots) long before any sexual activity with another person begins. It is possible to be infected with HPV the very first time they have sexual contact with another person. Also, the vaccine produces higher antibody that fights infection when given at this age compared to older ages.
How does getting HPV vaccine at ages 11 or 12 fit with other health recommendations?
Doctors recommend health check-ups for preteens and teens. The first dose of an HPV vaccine should be given to girls and boys aged 11 or 12 years during any visit to the doctor. Three other vaccines are recommended for preteens and teens. During one visit, HPV vaccine can be given safely with these other preteen and teen vaccines. Check-ups during the preteen and teen years are also times when older kids and their parents can talk to their providers about other ways to stay healthy and safe.
What is the recommended schedule (or timing) of the 3 HPV doses (shots)?
3 doses (shots) are recommended over six months. CDC recommends that the second dose be given one to two months after the first, and the third dose be given six months after the first dose.
Are the HPV vaccines safe and effective?
FDA has licensed the vaccines as safe and effective. Both vaccines were tested in thousands of people around the world. These studies showed no serious side effects. Common, mild side effects included pain where the shot was given, fever, headache, and nausea. As of July 2012, approximately 46 million doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine were distributed in the United States. As with all vaccines, CDC and FDA continue to monitor the safety of these vaccines very carefully. These vaccine safety studies continue to show that HPV vaccines are safe.
Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer
A risk factor increases a person’s chance of getting a disease.
– HPV: Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is passed from one person to another during sex. The risk of getting HPV increases the earlier a person becomes sexually active or if a person or his/her partner has had sex with multiple partners. However, anyone who is sexually active is at risk for getting HPV. Because HPV can occur in male and female genital areas that are not covered by a condom, condom use is not guaranteed to prevent HPV infection; however, condom use has been associated with lower rates of cervical cancer.
– Age: The risk of having this cancer is very low among girls less than fifteen years old. The risk goes up between the late teens and mid-thirties, so unlike many other cancers that rarely affect young adults, cervical cancer can affect young women in their twenties and even in their teens. Although cervical cancer risk does not increase very much after 40, it doesn’t get any lower either. Many older women do not realize that they have the highest risk of developing cervical cancer and that it is important for them to continue having Pap tests.
– Not getting regular Pap tests: Women should receive their regularly scheduled Pap tests. The Pap test can detect pre-cancerous cells (cervical dysplasia). This way, women will be able to get treatment and stop cervical dysplasia before it develops into an invasive cancer.
– Race and ethnicity: African-Americans, Hispanic/Latinas, Vietnamese and American Indians also have cervical cancer death rates that are above the national average.
– Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): HIV and chlamydia, which are passed from one person to another during sex, increases the risk for cervical cancer. Having unprotected sex and multiple partners increases the chance of getting an STI.
– Weakened Immune System: Infection with HIV or taking drugs that lower the immune system defenses can increase the risk for cervical cancer.
– Smoking: Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to get cervical cancer. Researchers believe tobacco smoke causes damage to the cells of the cervix.
– Diet: Diets low in fruits and vegetables may be linked to an increased risk of developing cervical and other cancers.
– Obesity: Women who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for cervical cancer.
– Birth control pill use: Long-term use of birth control pills increases the risk of cervical cancer.
– Having many pregnancies: Women with an HPV infection who have had many full-term pregnancies (5 or more) may have a slightly increased risk of cervical cancer.
– Family history: Women whose mother or sister had cervical cancer are at increased risk of developing the disease. It is not clear why, but some researchers believe this is due to an inherited condition which makes some women less able to fight off HPV; others believe women in the same family are more likely to share other non-genetic risk factors.
– Low socioeconomic status: Many women of low socio-economic status do not have adequate access to screening, like Pap tests, and are therefore at a higher risk for developing cervical cancer.
– DES (diethylstilbestrol): DES was given to some pregnant women in the United States between 1940 and 1971. The daughters of women who took this drug during their pregnancy may have an increased risk of a rare form of cervical cancer.
Want More Information on Cervical Cancer?
Cervical Cancer Facts [PDF]
