Take Charge of Your Health with HPV Vaccination and Routine Checkups

What is HPV?

Human Papilloma Virus is a very common, highly contagious virus, causing viral STI (sexually transmitted infection) in men and women.

How does HPV spread?

It spreads through sexual contact, skin to skin contact of genital, anal and oral areas with an infected partner. Most sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point in their life, if not vaccinated against it.

Types of HPV?

There are >100 varieties/strains of HPV. Most of them causes skin or genital warts, hence are low risk HPV. Types 6 and 11 are mostly responsible for all genital warts.

But some strains can lead to pre-cancers and cancers and are high risk HPV. Types 16 and 18 are the most common HRHPV.

HPV and Cervical cancer

Cervix is the lower end of uterus. 

Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecological cancers in Indian women and 2nd most common cancer in women worldwide.

HPV is the cause of 99% of cervical cancers. 

Other cancers caused by HPV are vaginal, vulval, penile, scrotal, anal, head and neck cancers

How does HPV lead to cancers?

HPV can affect anyone. The infection does not have any symptoms and hence people in majority will not be aware of the same, unless on regular screening.  Once infected, spontaneous resolution occurs in 90% individuals over 1 to 2 years, provided they have good immunity.

10% infected population will continue to harbour the infection leading to a persistent infection which damages the cells over a couple of years or decades and leads to pre-cancer lesions, which if not detected and treated early, progresses to cancer.

How to prevent HPV infection and Cervical cancer?

1. HPV vaccines – highly efficacious (95-98%), most effective when given before exposure to the virus. It prevents infections of the vaccine specific strains, genital warts, pre-cancers and cancers, in both men and women. Less effective for those who are already exposed to HPV.

• 9 to 14y, 2 doses (boys and girls) ideal age for vaccination
• 15y to 26y – 3 doses
• 26 to 45y – 3 doses, FDA approved, not routinely advised.

2. Screening tests – helps detects abnormalities at an early stage, hence can be successfully treated. 

• PAP test – detects any abnormal changes in cervical cells. All women who are or were ever sexually active should get tested.

  Conventional pap smears and LBC (liquid based cytology) are the two available methods.

Start at 21y, once in 3years, stop at 65y.

• HPV DNA test - start at 30y, once in 5y, stop at 65y.
• Co-test – PAP and HPV, once in 5y

3. Safe sexual practices –

• Avoid multiple sexual partners.
• Barrier methods like condoms, not only helps with contraception, but effectively helps reduce transmission of many STIs including HPV. Consistent use of condoms for this purpose is advisable even when the female partner is on hormonal contraception
• Regular checks and proper treatment of STIs

4. Healthy lifestyle

Avoid smoking, alcohol, abusive drugs that can lead to poor immunity. Nutritious diet, regular exercises can help in coping with the above habits.

5. Regular health checks
    

How does screening tests help?

These tests are offered to all women with no symptoms.  The tests help detect the presence of HPV, the strain, any abnormalities in the cervix, pre- cancer or early cancer lesions. When diagnosed early, a less morbid, less expensive and a less extensive, but highly effective and curative treatment can prevent further progress to cancer.