HPV and Cancer: A Deadly Combination

Are you certain that you know enough about the Human Papilloma Virus?

High number of HPV infections

There are more than 100 different types of the Human Papilloma Virus and approximately 30 types cause genital warts. The virus is spread through skin contact, so condoms or any other protection used in sexual intercourse is ineffective. In the USA, it was estimated that 25,000 people died from cancer between 1998 and 2003 because of HPV infection. The most common cancer is cervical cancer, followed by anal, vulvar and throat cancer. In most cases, cancer develops after an infection with high-risk HPV genotypes. There are about 15 genotypes, where HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for 70-86% of cervical cancer. In most people, infection spontaneously disappears after 8 to 12 months, but 10-20% of people develop chronic HPV infection. Thus, they’re more likely to develop serious pre-cancerous changes and cancer. There’s no drug for HPV, you are only treated for diseases caused by HPV, but there’s a vaccine against HPV. Every year, approximately 500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, 300,000 of which die. A study conducted by CDC (US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention), which included 38 states, showed that 7400 cases of mouth and throat cancer can be linked to HPV, i.e. 5700 men and 1700 women. About 3000 cases of anal cancer  can be linked to HPV infections, i.e. 1900 women and 1100 men.

Protection against HPV

As there’s no completely effective protection available, the only solution is to be vaccinated against  HPV. The most common vaccine is a quadrivalent vaccine (against four HPV genotypes – 6, 11, 16 and 18). It offers protection against serious pre-cancerous changes and cervical cancer, pre-cancerous changes to the vulva and genital warts. Most people contract an infection  between 15 and 24 years of age, so this is the most appropriate period to be vaccinated, but at least up to the age of nine. Vaccination is carried out by three doses of the vaccine (0, 2, 6 months). It has to be postponed for people with acute fever disease, while pregnant women and people who are too  sensitive to the vaccine aren’t vaccinated. You don’t need to be tested for HPV infection before vaccination. The vaccine has been tested on more than 20,000 women aged between 16 and 26, in different countries around the world. It’s highly effective as protection against infections caused by the aforementioned four HPV genotypes in uninfected women. It offers protection against those HPV genotypes that cause at least 70% of cervical cancer and up to 90% of genital warts. The vaccine, however, doesn’t treat the existing HPV infections and their complications. Studies including more than 21,000 people of both sexes showed that adolescents and young women have the least side effects. The most common side effects are: short-lasting local pain (84%), swelling (25%), redness (25%) and itching (3%). You can also have slight fever (up to 10% of vaccinations). Other serious side effects are very rare.  Protection against infection lasts at least 5 years, but there are additional studies underway to determine the period of protection more precisely.

Read more about serious diseases and their effect on sexuality in the Encyclopedia of Sexuality.