How Common Is Hpv
Every year, nearly 200,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with cervical precancer, or abnormal cells on the cervix that have the potential to become cancer, the CDC says. Nearly 11,000 cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, and more than 4,000 women die from the disease.Every year in the U.S., more than 14,000 men get cancers caused by HPVthats about 4 out of every 10 cases of cancer caused by HPV overall.
Women May Be More Likely To Transmit Hpv
While many people assume men are more likely to transmit HPV to women, a new study suggests that is not so. Researchers reporting in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that the risk of new infection was 60% higher in the male partner compared to the female partner. That’s another argument for vaccinating males . “We saw such a large amount of infection occurring from females to males, that begs a questions about why we would not want to vaccinate males,” says study lead author Alan G. Nyitray, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston.
What Is The Outlook For Cervical Cancer
The survival rate is close to 100% when you find and treat precancerous or early cancerous changes. The prognosis for invasive cervical cancer depends on the stage.
- More than 90% of women with stage 0 survive at least 5 years after diagnosis.
- Stage I cervical cancer patients have a 5-year survival rate of 80% to 93%.
- Women with stage II cervical cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 58% to 63%.
- The survival rate for women with stage III cervical cancer is 32% to 35%.
- Sixteen percent or fewer women with stage IV cervical cancer survive 5 years.
Health care providers who treat cancer often use the term “remission” rather than “cure.” Many women who have cervical cancer recover completely, but it can still come back.
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There Are Three Simple Ways To Reduce Your Hpv Risk
Although HPV is widespread and in most cases doesnt cause problems, there are ways to minimize your risks.
- Use a condom. HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, and since condoms dont cover everything, they dont totally eliminate the risk of HPV transmission. But they can help. Dental dams can make oral sex safer, too.
- Limit your number of sex partners. The more partners you have, the higher your risk of contracting HPV.
- Get vaccinated. HPV vaccines are safe and effective. The CDC recommends vaccination from age 9 to 45.
Knowing your risks and watching for changes in your body will go a long way toward limiting the chances that you will have problems with HPV-related cancers. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or suspect a problem.
Hpv Can Be Transmitted During Oral Sex
Mouth and throat cancers are relatively rare, but HPV is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor, possibly transmitted via oral sex. The risk is relatively low: Up to 80% of sexually active people aged 14 to 44 have had oral sex, but this type of cancer makes up only 3% of all cases. Smoking and alcohol are thought to be the main causes of throat cancer. However, “more and more we’re realizing many head and neck cancers are caused by HPV, says Lois Ramondetta, MD, professor of medical gynecologic oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
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What Is The Hpv Vaccine
You may be wondering what the HPV vaccine is, what it prevents and why you should have one. The HPV vaccine was introduced over 10 years ago to girls in schools as a national vaccination programme, it has since been rolled out to boys, and the vaccine is now available privately in local pharmacies across the country.
Like the NHS we use the Gardasil vaccine, however the NHS administers Gardasil 4 which protects against 4 type of HPV. We offer Gardasil 9 which helps protect against 9 types of HPV. Both vaccines protect against types of cervical cancer, genital cancers and some types of cancer that affect the head and neck. The HPV vaccine also works to protects you from catching genital warts, however it does not stop you from getting other STIs, so practising safe sex is best.
Japan’s Halt Of Regular Hpv Vaccine To Cause Thousands Of Cancer Deaths: Study
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TOKYO – A decision by Japan to stop recommending adolescent girls receive a HPV vaccination will likely result in almost 11,000 deaths from cervical cancer if it is not reversed, according to a study in a prestigious medical journal.
The HPV vaccine has been a political lightening rod in Japan, where claims of side effects prompted the government to halt active recommendation of the shots in June 2013.
A study published in The Lancet Public Health on Monday said that policy would lead to more than 24,600 cervical cancer cases that could have been prevented.
Using Japanese population and medical data and forecasted cervical cancer incidence, the study found that, if nothing changes, there would be 10,800 preventable deaths from cervical cancer over the next 50 years.
If the government were to resume promoting the HPV vaccine in Japan, our study shows that we could avoid most of this loss of life, said study co-author Sharon Hanley, a professor at Hokkaido University in northern Japan.
The Japanese government could not immediately be reached for comment on the Lancet report. Kei Tamura, deputy director of the Health Ministrys immunization office, said in an interview in December that there is a sort of inner conflict in that we are not aggressively, proactively recommending it, but I do think its better to take it.
Uptake was swift when the vaccine was introduced in Japan in 2009, with immunization reaching about 70% in adolescent girls.
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When Should My Child Get The Hpv Vaccine
The vaccine is given as a series of shots. HPV vaccination works best when given between ages 9 and 12.
Children and young adults age 13 through 26 who have not been vaccinated, or who havent gotten all their doses, should get the vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccination of young adults will not prevent as many cancers as vaccination of children and teens.
The American Cancer Society does not recommend HPV vaccination for persons older than 26 years.
Treatment For Advanced Cervical Cancer
When the cancer has spread beyond the cervix, surgery is not usually an option.
Doctors also refer to advanced cancer as invasive cancer, because it has invaded other areas of the body. This type of cancer requires more extensive treatment, which will typically involve either radiation therapy or a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
In the later stages of cancer, healthcare professionals provide palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
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The Safety Record Of The Hpv Vaccine
The HPV vaccine has been used worldwide for many years in countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK, the US and most of western Europe.
More than 100 million people have been vaccinated worldwide.
A number of authorities around the world, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, the World Health Organization and the EMA, have monitored the use of the HPV vaccine very closely for many years.
They use lots of different kinds of safety data and continue to say the HPV vaccine is very safe.
As with all medicine and vaccines, there are some mild side effects associated with the HPV vaccination.
Vaccines Have Changed The Hpv Landscape: Here’s How
According to the CDC, since the first Gardasil vaccine was introduced in 2006, infections with the HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 86%in teen girls and 71% in young women. Among vaccinated women, the percentage of cervical precancers caused by the HPV types most often linked to cervical cancer has dropped by 40%.
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One Shot May Be Enough
Both HPV vaccines require three doses given at separate times, but new research suggests that one dose actually might be enough. In a 2013 study, the vaccine showed similar effectiveness four years after it was given, regardless of whether the women got one, two, or three doses. That’s good news given that only 53% of girls ages 13 through 17 get an HPV shot and only about a third complete the series. However, it’s best to stick to the recommended three.
The National Immunisation Programme For Hpv Who’s Eligible
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The human papillomavirus is a very common virus. There are over 100 different strains of HPV. Most of them are harmless and won’t cause any problems. Some strains cause verrucas, whilst others can cause genital warts.
However, certain high-risk strains of HPV can lead to cell changes that cause cancer most commonly, cervical cancer in women. Other strains are known to cause genital warts.
Because of the cancer risk associated with high-risk strains of the virus,, the NHS runs a national immunisation programme offering an HPV vaccine. This is available for school age girls and boys, and men who have sex with men.
If youre concerned about HPV and youd like to learn more about getting the vaccine, read on to find out if youre eligible for one on the NHS.
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Hpv Causes Head And Neck Cancers Too
One of the biggest but lesser-known dangers of HPV involves the risk of head and neck cancer, with HPV spreading to the throat via oral sex.
The rate of cancers in the back of the throat is skyrocketing, Trimble says. Experts are using the word epidemic to describe it. Its on track to outpace cervical cancer.
While women can get these cancers, most of the people who get it are heterosexual males. There is currently no way to screen for it, making it all the more important that parents get their children including boys vaccinated.
How Have Vaccines Changed The Hpv Landscape
According to the CDC, since the first Gardasil vaccine was introduced in 2006, infections with the HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 86%in teen girls and 71% in young women. Among vaccinated women, the percentage of cervical precancers caused by the HPV types most often linked to cervical cancer has dropped by 40%.In a meta-analysis published in June 2019 in The Lancet, researchers looked at 65 studies in 14 high-income countries and found that in the years since the first HPV vaccine was introduced, there has been a substantial decrease in HPV infections, precancerous cervical lesions, and anogenital warts .The researchers said that cases of HPV types 16 and 18 which the CDC says cause 70% of cervical cancerdecreased by 83% among girls ages 13 to 19 and by 66% among women 20 to 24.HPV vaccines offer a chance of eradicating cervical cancer in wealthy countries within decades, one of the studys authors added .
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The Side Effects Of The Hpv Vaccine
You may have heard about HPV in the news or seen a sign about vaccinations at your local pharmacy. The HPV vaccine can help protect you from the infection, although like with any vaccine or medication there are potential side effects that you should know about and consider before you or your loved one has the vaccine. Were always here to help you find what is best for you and your family.
The Time Is Now To Take A Shot At Eliminating Six Cancers Caused By Hpv
Its still in the public perception that HPV is largely a problem for women, Gillison told STAT. I think people have to be aware that the burden of HPV positive oropharynx cancer in men in the United States now exceeds the burden of cervical cancer diagnosed each year. Although survival rates are relatively high for these patients, treating these cancers is grueling for the patient and expensive for the health care system. The idea that tumors could be prevented with a few shots is bracing.
I just know that I dont have a single patient who wouldnt swap two or three shots for what I do to them to try to save their life, Gillison said.
The HPV vaccine was originally approved in 2006 to prevent cervical cancer, based on studies showing that it prevented the formation of pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV that are known to be necessary for the virus to cause cervical cancer.
Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said that the initial FDA approval was focused on girls because it was possible to show that the vaccine could prevent these lesions. Offit said he protested at the time that infections in boys were likely to be as important as those in girls. We sent the wrong message, Offit said. Its a message that we still havent shaken.
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How Long Does Hpv Vaccine Last
The HPV vaccine does not offer protecting against all types of HPV, instead it protects against the strains of HPV which cause genital warts, cervical cancer and other cancers like mouth and throat. That being said, studies have shown that the HPV vaccine continues to protect for at least 10 years, with many experts expecting those who have been vaccinated to be protected for longer.
How Can I Spot The Symptoms Of Hpv
The symptoms depend on the specific strain of HPV. If you contract one of the cervical cancer-causing strains of HPV, “you don’t usually get any symptoms until really advanced,” Dr. Askew told POPSUGAR. “You can have bleeding after intercourse, but there’s not a lot of differences.”
With other types of HPV, common symptoms may include bumps or lesions developing on the skin around the vagina or anus. “How big they get and how many someone develops are more dependent on their immune system and how aggressive the strain of virus they got is,” Dr. Askew explained. While these are the things you’re most likely to notice, you may not have any symptoms at all this is why it’s so important to keep up with routine Pap smears and regular STD testing.
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Telling Sexual Partners You Have Hpv
This probably wont surprise you at this point, but it really depends on your situation. Unfortunately, there are no standard medical guidelines to direct physicians or patients in HPV disclosure, Dr. Lau says.
But there are times when it definitely makes more sense to share. For instance, if youre in a monogamous relationship, Dr. Matseoane-Peterssen recommends talking to your partner about your diagnosis purely for any emotional support you may need, because being diagnosed with an STI can be scary.
But keep in mind that when telling a sexual partner that you have HPV, its effectively telling them they may have HPV, too. It can be helpful to come prepared with information to assuage any fears they may have, like the fact that having HPV is super common, might clear from their system pretty quickly, and doesnt necessarily mean anything bad will happen to their health.
Still, this information might be less useful to partners with penises since its not like they can run out and go get tested for HPV. But having that in the back of their mind could at least help them be more vigilant of any symptoms of genital warts or, in the very worst case, things like anal bleeding or penile skin changes that could indicate HPV-related cancer.