| Question: | What is human papilloma virus (HPV)? |
| Answer: |
It is a very common virus that comprises of about 100 types. The most well known type is probably the one that causes common warts, commonly found on the hands and feet. There are about 30 types of HPV affecting the genital area; these include both the 'low risk' and the 'high risk' HPV types. The low risk HPVs sometimes cause genital warts but they do not cause cervical cancer. In contrast, the high risk HPVs may cause abnormal cellular changes in the uterine cervix, called 'cervical intraepithelial neoplasia ("CIN")'. While low grade CIN may sometimes regress, high grade CIN may eventually develop into cervical cancer if appropriate treatment is not given. |
| Question: | How will I get infected with HPV? |
| Answer: | HPV is transmitted via close skin contact and sexual intercourse. |
| Question: | I only have one sexual partner. Will I be susceptible to HPV infection? |
| Answer: | Yes. According to studies on young female in UK and USA, including college students, around 50% will be infected by HPV within 5 years after sexual experience, even with a single partner. |
| Question: | Will all women infected with HPV develop cervical cancer? |
| Answer: | According to studies in the US Centers for Disease Control, the lifetime risk of HPV infection is at least 50% among sexually active men and women. About 70% of new cases with HPV infections, including those with the high-risk HPV types will regress within one year. CIN and cervical cancer will only develop in a portion of women with persistent infection by high-risk HPV types. HPV is therefore a necessary, but not the only factor for the development of cervical cancer. |
| Question: | I have heard that vaccination against HPV is available. How useful is the vaccine in preventing HPV infection and cervical cancer? |
| Answer: | Since almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV infection, protection against HPV infection will naturally protect women from cervical cancer. The majority of HPV vaccines available today offers more than 90% protection for women against infection with HPV type 16 and 18, which are the two types of high risk HPV that cause approximately 70% of cervical cancer throughout the world. |
| Question: | I was recently diagnosed of having HPV effect on my cervical smear test; will vaccination with HPV vaccine help to kill the virus? |
| Answer: | The HPV vaccines available currently, or in the near future, are for prophylaxis only. In other words, they are useful for protecting women from HPV infection and cannot be used to cure current HPV infection. |
| Question: | When should I receive HPV vaccination? |
| Answer: | Since these vaccines are for prophylaxis, ideally they should be given before exposure to HPV infection, i.e. before sexual experience. Nevertheless, these vaccines may provide some degree of protection even after a recent sexual exposure. However, the degree of protection varies depending on whether there had been prior infection with HPV16 and/or HPV18 at the time of vaccination. |
| Question: | How could the vaccine be given? |
| Answer: | By three intramuscular injections within six to seven months, i.e. at 0, 1 (or 2) and 6 months. |
| Question: | How long could such protection last? |
| Answer: | According to a recent study, the protection could last for at least 4.5 years. |
| Question: | Is booster dose necessary? |
| Answer: | Data are not yet available on this aspect. |
| Question: | Can I stop having cervical smear test after I have received the vaccine? |
| Answer: | No, since the current vaccines could only provide 70% protection against cervical cancers which are caused by HPV types 16 and 18, one could still be infected with other high risk HPV types that also cause cervical cancer. Perhaps, there may be a need for modification of the screening programme in future but it is currently too early to comment. |
| Question: | Are there any side effects after receiving the vaccine? |
| Answer: | According to the current data on clinical trials, no significant serious side effects have been encountered. However, mild to moderate pain and redness at the sites of intramuscular injection may develop, similar to vaccination against other diseases. Occasionally, fever was reported as a systemic side effect. |
| Question: | Does HPV vaccine provide any contraception effect? |
| Answer: | HPV vaccine does not provide any contraceptive effect. Women receiving the vaccine should use a proper method for contraception. |
| Question: | If I got pregnant while I was receiving the HPV vaccine or soon after, will the vaccine affect my baby? |
| Answer: | No conclusive data is available at the moment. While preliminary data did not reveal any significant adverse effect on pregnancy and infant, women are advised to adopt contraception till the completion of the three doses of vaccines |
| Question: | Does HPV vaccine provide any protective effect against other viruses like herpes or HIV? |
| Answer: | HPV vaccine does not protect against other types of sexually transmitted diseases. Other preventive measures, such as condom, should be used. |
| Question: | Will there be protection if I do not complete all the three doses of HPV vaccine? |
| Answer: | No formal data is available. Women are encouraged to complete the whole vaccination programme, i.e. all three doses. |