HPV is a double stranded DNA virus that has long been known to be the causative agent for genital warts and has recently been determined to be responsible for cervical cancers. Cervical Cancer: This is cancer of the uterine cervix with 90% of the cancers being squamous cell in origin. Persistent infection of the cervix with HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer.
Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer
HPV infection is contracted mainly through sexual behavior which includes multiple sexual partners, new partners, partner sex history and age of onset of sexual intercourse. There are over 100 types of HPV with types 16 and 18 accounting for 70% of cervical cancers and the remaining being caused by types 31 and 33.
Prevention:
• Responsible sexual behavior, including abstinence and use of condoms
• Vaccination
• Cervical cancer screening as per current screening guidelines
Vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus disease should be done before the onset of sexual activity for optimal protection but can be used in sexually active groups to prevent multiple or persistent infections.
Three prophylactic HPV vaccines, directed against high-risk HPV types, are currently available: the quadrivalent vaccine, the bivalent vaccine and the nonavalent vaccine.
The bivalent vaccine contains non-infectious protein antigens for HPV 16 and 18, the quadrivalent against non-infectious protein antigens for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 and the nonavalent, non-infectious protein antigens for HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
The quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines offer comparable immunogenicity, efficacy and effectiveness for the prevention of cervical cancer, which is mainly caused by HPV types 16 and 18. Target population: The recommended primary target population for HPV vaccination is girls aged 9–14 years, prior to becoming sexually active.
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