HPV Vaccine – what do you need to know?

HPV is a virus that almost every person in the world had contact with at some point in life. It is estimated that half of the world's population had the infection, often without even knowing it. The most effective form of protection against it is HPV vaccine. It protects not only against infection with the virus, but also prevents the development of precancerous lesions and cancers of the genital organs – vulva, vagina, cervix, but also anus, and the formation of genital warts. This vaccine, is also known as the cervical cancer vaccine, due to the fact that it mainly prevents the development of this cancer. What exactly is HPV? What you should know about the HPV vaccine? At what age you should get vaccinated?

What is HPV, and how is it infected?

HPV is nothing else but the human papillomavirus. There are many types of it, so the symptoms of its occurrence can vary – from warts on the surface of the skin to the development of neoplasm. One of the most dangerous cancers caused by HPV is cervical cancer. According to World Health Organization (WHO), human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 are responsible for 99% of all cases of this cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, accounting for 6.9% of all cancer cases.

Find out more about cervical cancer: Cervical Cancer Prevention – What You Need To Know?

Infection with the virus usually occurs through sexual contact, so one of the preventive measures is to use condoms during intercourse. However, the most effective prophylactic action is HPV vaccination.

HPV vaccine – when to get vaccinated?

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the priority is to vaccinate girls aged 9 to 14. It is also recommended to vaccine boys from the same age group. However, this recommendation is not a priority, especially in resource-constrained countries – the most important issue is the timely vaccination of the female part of the indicated age group. The second group of concern is both young and adult women. Vaccine is the most effective in people who have not had contact with the virus yet.

What are the types of HPV vaccine?

Commonly used HPV vaccines are polyvalence or multi-component vaccines, which means that they use several types or antigens of several types of the same microorganism. There are three types:

• 2-valent (using two types);
• 4-valent (using four types);
• 9-valent (using nine types).

The vaccines in use are:

• Ceravix – protects against diseases caused by HPV types 16 and 18; these diseases include cervical cancer and precancerous lesions of the cervix;
• Silgard – aims to protect against diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18; these diseases include cervical cancer, precancerous lesions and genital warts;
• Gardasil – aims to protect against diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18; these diseases include cervical cancer, precancerous lesions and genital warts;
• Gardasil 9 – protects against diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.

All of them significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer – by 90%. Their effectiveness is possible when 2 doses are administered at an interval of at least 6 months, but not more than 12-15 months. In addition, combined vaccines protect against condylomas, i.e. non-neoplastic lesions, which are most often the result of infection with the papillomavirus type 6 and 11. Vaccination for cervical cancer does not exempt from regular gynecological examinations and periodic cytology.

Vaccination against HPV – what are the side effects and contraindications?

HPV vaccines are safe and have few side effects – mainly those that are also characteristic of the administration of vaccines that protect against other infectious diseases.

Pain, redness and itching after the procedure in the area of the injection are the most common. Vaccination can also cause headache, muscle pain and fatigue. Rare side effects include:

• Digestive system disorders, i.e. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• Skin reactions such as erythema, itching or urticaria;
• Dizziness;
• Local sensory disturbance.

These symptoms are short-lived and usually disappear within 2-3 days. Moreover, so far no association has been reported between the vaccine and the occurrence of serious complications.

The main contraindications for vaccination are infections accompanied by high fever. The vaccine should not be administered to persons under 9 years old, pregnant women and people who are hypersensitive to the active substances or who have developed an allergic reaction after the first dose.

If you are looking for more information about cancer in women, see the article: The most common cancers in women. How to prevent them?