What you need to know about HPV vaccination

Cervical cancer vaccination helps prevent the most dangerous disease in women. Cervical cancer is the second most common disease in women worldwide and ranks fourth in terms of morbidity and mortality globally.

Notes when vaccinated against cervical cancer

The following article was consulted by Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of VNVC Immunization Center System.

Cervical cancer is the third most common disease among Vietnamese women aged 15 to 44. 80% of women are infected with HPV at least once in their life. Every day 7 women die from cervical cancer, 14 new cases are diagnosed with the disease. Not everyone infected with HPV will develop cervical cancer, however, more than 90% of cervical cancers detected are caused by the HPV virus. In Vietnam alone, nearly 5,000 women have cervical cancer, more than 2,000 deaths from cervical cancer in 2018.

The HPV virus can live silently and grow in the body without producing any symptoms. The best way to prevent up to 90% of cervical cancers is the HPV vaccine for girls and women 9-26 years old.

What HPV vaccines are available? Age and subjects vaccinated against cervical cancer? Does HPV vaccination require testing? Can HPV infection prevent cervical cancer? Can I get the HPV vaccine if I have genital warts? How long does it take to get pregnant with cervical cancer vaccination?…

What is the HPV vaccine?

HPV vaccine is a vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer and genital papilloma, genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV); Infection in the epithelial cells of the skin and mucous membranes, is associated with cervical abnormalities (including precancerous lesions, cancer), warts, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. HPV is also associated with other cancers such as squamous cell cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis, and head and neck cancers.

HPV virus is mainly transmitted by sexual contact: skin-to-skin contact, oral mucosa, oropharynx or contact with the penis, uterus, vagina, anus of infected people. Kissing or touching your partner's genitals with your mouth can also spread the HPV virus.

In addition, this virus can also be transmitted non-sexually such as nail clippers, biopsy staplers, underwear, etc.

HPV can also be transmitted vertically from mother to child during delivery and causes neonatal multiple papillomatosis.

There are more than 140 types of Papillomavirus (HPV) detected in humans. About 40 types can infect the genital areas such as the vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis and scrotum, as well as the mouth and throat. These types of HPV are spread during sexual intercourse.

Most genital HPV infections are completely harmless and go away on their own. But certain types of HPV can lead to genital warts or certain types of cancer.

• Two types of HPV (types 6 and 11) cause most cases of genital warts. Genital warts are visible warts on the genital area of ​​men and women. These bumps can be small or large, raised or flat, and are painless. Warts are not life-threatening but can be difficult to deal with because of the potential for reinfection after treatment. However, genital warts are considered a low-risk virus because they do not lead to cancer or other serious health problems.
• More than 10 strains of HPV can lead to cancer, of which two specific strains (types 16 and 18) lead to the majority of cancers. This is called high-risk HPV. Cervical cancer is most commonly associated with HPV, but HPV can also cause cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, and pharynx. HPV types 16 and 18 are also the two main types that cause cervical cancer and are also the cause of cancers such as vulvar cancer (50%), vaginal cancer (65%), and cervical cancer. oropharynx (70%).

HPV infection from the genital tract is very common. In fact, most people who have sex get the virus at some point in their lives. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms and feel completely fine, so they often don't know they are infected.

According to statistics of HPV Information Center, every 4 minutes, 1 person dies from cervical cancer, every day in Vietnam there are 14 new cases and 7 women die from cervical cancer.

There is currently no cure for the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer. But there are many things you can do to keep HPV from having a negative impact on your health. There are vaccines that can help protect you against certain types of HPV. High-risk HPV infections can often be easily treated before they progress to cancer, which is why routine vaccinations and cancer screenings are so important.

Should I get vaccinated against cervical cancer?

Up to now, vaccination is the most effective way for women to actively prevent this dangerous disease. HPV vaccines are safe and can be highly effective in protecting children, women, and men from HPV-related illnesses.

Doctors recommend that children aged 9-26 years get this vaccine to ensure that they are protected before being exposed to this virus.

Age and subjects vaccinated against cervical cancer

In Vietnam, the HPV vaccine as recommended by the vaccine manufacturer is indicated for women between the ages of 9 and 26, regardless of whether they have ever had sex or not.

Experts recommend that women get vaccinated against cervical cancer as soon as possible. Vaccines are effective for up to 30 years.

Scientists think that boys during puberty may also benefit from the HPV vaccination. Now, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consideration should be given to expanding the HPV vaccination program to boys, after a study found that the number of men with cancer caused by HIV infection should be considered. HPV virus will outnumber women, and HPV infection can increase the risk of throat cancer, mouth cancer, tongue cancer in men as well as cancer of the male genital tract (anus, penis .).

What HPV vaccines are available?

The vaccine against cervical cancer is one of the frequently scarce vaccines. Currently, in our country are circulating  vaccines to prevent cervical, vulvar, vaginal, precancerous lesions and dysplasia, genital warts and diseases caused by HPV infection (origin: USA: USA) ) .

This vaccine together helps protect you against HPV strains 16 and 18 – the two viruses that are considered the most dangerous because they can cause diseases like cervical, vaginal and anal cancers. . In addition, the vaccine also works against HPV strains 6 and 11, two strains of the virus that can cause genital warts.

How much does the cervical cancer vaccine (HPV) cost?

The vaccine against cervical cancer (HPV) is on the top priority list of many people. Therefore, the situation of scarcity, sometimes price fluctuations of vaccines has occurred in many health facilities across the country.

Cervical cancer vaccines at VNVC vaccination center are priced at: VND 1,790,000 (retail price) and VND 2,148,000 (price for ordering vaccines on request).

Does HPV vaccination require testing?

The HPV vaccine does not require pre-vaccination testing. Females between the ages of 9 and 26, not pregnant, not allergic to any component of the vaccine, not being treated for acute diseases, etc. are eligible for this vaccine.

All women should be screened before vaccination to ensure vaccination safety

Side effects of HPV vaccine

Many people can get the vaccine without any serious side effects. However, you may experience mild to moderate side effects after the vaccine, such as:

• injection site reaction, red halo, pain, or swelling;
• Mild fever;
• Hives;
• Headache;
• Tired;
• Muscle pain;
• Athritis;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal pain, diarrhea;
• Hypersensitivity…

If you are experiencing any unusual symptoms or if symptoms persist, you should consult your doctor.

Can HPV infection be vaccinated?

The cervical cancer vaccine is still effective when given to people who have had sex, even if they have been infected with the HPV virus. Because in fact, HPV virus is very easy to re-infect – that is, after the body clears the virus, it is still possible to infect them again. The body's natural immunity is not enough to prevent reinfection, but vaccines can.

Besides, there are many different types of HPV. Even if you have been infected with one type of HPV in the past, you should still get vaccinated to protect against other types of HPV.

Chances of infection when not vaccinated against cervical cancer

It is a fact that HPV virus is very contagious, according to some statistics, up to 20% of cases of HPV infection in the first 4 months of sexual intercourse and 50% of cases of HPV infection in the first 2 years of arising. sexual relations.

HPV virus invades the cervical epithelium, causing cell changes and this process lasts from 10 to 20 years, with manifestations ranging from simple inflammatory lesions to intraepithelial neoplasia, cancer in the cervical epithelium. place and invade. Therefore, early detection by cytology, screening tests is necessary, helping to increase the ability to prevent and treat cervical lesions early in order to reduce the mortality rate of the disease and to research and deploy vaccines. Prevention of Human Papilloma virus in young women.

If you haven't been vaccinated, you're more likely to get HPV if you have the following:

• Having unprotected sex;
• Same-sex sexual relations;
• Having multiple sexual partners;
• Contact with warts;
• Have a weakened immune system;
• Poor nutrition.

How long does it take to get pregnant with cervical cancer vaccination?

When planning to start a family, women need to take the initiative to get vaccinated against cervical cancer early. If you become pregnant while receiving the vaccine, you will postpone the vaccination schedule and complete the vaccination schedule to continue after giving birth.

Can I get the HPV vaccine if I have genital warts?

Genital warts are warts that appear on the genitals. They can be a small nodule or shaped like a cauliflower. In many cases, warts can be very small and barely visible. Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). This virus can cause genital warts as well as cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination is the act of injecting a vaccine into the body to prevent and support the treatment of HPV infection.

Vaccination does not have the same effect as specific drugs in the treatment of genital warts, genital warts, cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers. Therefore, if the patient has had genital warts, the patient should see a dermatologist, do an HPV PCR test; If you are not already infected with these types, you can be vaccinated.

In case the patient has been diagnosed with genital warts, and is being treated for genital warts according to the doctor's prescription, vaccination can be given to prevent recurrence and support the treatment of genital warts in the following direction. instructions of doctors.