Human Papillomavirus prevalence in the general population
KEY FACTS
• The risk of HPV infection increases significantly after first sexual debut.
• HPV infection normally has no signs or symptoms, so it is very difficult to determine if someone has a current infection.
• More than 90% of people infected with HPV will clear their infection eventually, but, given the number of HPV infections, governments and communities need to take steps to protect people.
• The HPV vaccine is safe and effective in protecting populations from the HPV strains most closely associated with cervical cancer development.
SOME PEOPLE SAY
Some of the misconceptions surrounding HPV are as follows:
• HPV is a rare condition, so women and girls don’t need to worry.
• People won’t catch HPV if they are healthy.
• Women and girls will have symptoms and know if you have been infected with HPV.
• People need to have a lot of sexual partners to be susceptible to HPV infection.
MORE THAN 95% ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION
KEY FACTS
• Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.
• HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for at least 70% of cervical cancer cases globally, while a further five types are responsible for a further 20 per cent of the global burden. In total, IARC has identified 13 types that are linked to cervical cancer.
• The HPV vaccines are a safe and effective way of reducing risk of infection with higher-risk HPV strains.
• All available HPV vaccines protect against HPV types 16 and 18.3
• The most common types of cervical cancer are not hereditary
SOME PEOPLE SAY
Some of the misconceptions surrounding cancer and HPV infection are as follows:
• HPV infection is responsible for only a small percentage of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer cannot be prevented. • HPV infection will always cause cancer.
• If a woman’s mother or grandmother had cervical cancer, she will have it too.
KEY FACTS
The HPV vaccine protects against the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV but not against all. It can also provide some protection from developing HPV-related cancers at other sites.
• The HPV vaccine is safe. Over 12 years of vaccine safety monitoring and more than 160 studies have shown that HPV vaccines have a favourable safety profile, including no impacts on future fertility for girls who are vaccinated.2,3,4
• Studies show that the HPV vaccine reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 90 per cent among vaccinated women compared with unvaccinated women.
• Because of the time between initial HPV infection (prevented by vaccines) and the development of cervical cancer, initial studies used pre-cancer as an endpoint. Most experts expected that this would ultimately result in prevention of cancer and following 10 years of research we now have clear evidence of the vaccine’s preventive effect. • A combination of HPV vaccination and screening provides the best protection against cervical cancer.
SOME SAY
Some of the misconceptions are as follows:
• HPV vaccination will prevent women and girls from being infected with all strains of HPV.
• Vaccination with HPV means women don’t need to participate in screening.
• HPV vaccines have strong side effects or are too new to be classified as safe.
• There is enough data on the impact of HPV vaccines on cervical cancer risks.
• HPV vaccines were only tested against pre-cancer and haven’t been shown to prevent cancer.
VACCINATING GIRLS AGED 9 TO 14 COULD PREVENT 30 - 40% OF CERVICAL DEATHS BETWEEN 2015 AND 2030
KEY FACTS
• HPV vaccines work best if delivered prior to exposure to the virus. To prevent cervical cancer, the World Health Organization(WHO) recommends vaccinating girls aged 9 - 14, when most have not started sexual activity.
• Lesbian and bisexual women are an often overlooked risk group for HPV infection, even though the virus can be transmitted between female sex partners. Given the prevalence of HPV in the general population, all girls between the ages of 9 and 14 should be vaccinated.
• The HPV vaccine is safe. Over 12 years of vaccine safety monitoring and more than 160 studies have shown that HPV vaccines have a favourable safety profile, including no impacts on future fertility for girls who are vaccinated.
• The average age at diagnosis for cervical cancer is about 47 years and 70% of cancers are diagnosed in women under the age of 60 who have not participated in regular cervical cancer screening.
SOME PEOPLE SAY
Some of the misconceptions surrounding cancer and HPV vaccination are as follows:
• HPV infection affects only young people.
• LGBTQ individuals do not need to be vaccinated.
• 9–14 years is too young to vaccinate girls.
• HPV vaccination can affect a girl’s fertility in later life.
• Cervical cancer is diagnosed only in older women and so there is no need to vaccinate girls.
HPV INFECTION IS A NORMAL PART OF BECOMING A SEXUALLY ACTIVE ADULT
KEY FACTS
• The vaccine is most effective if administered before sexual debut as it is possible for HPV to be passed on from first sexual debut. As a result, HPV infection is not a result of sexual promiscuity.
• Research suggests that two in five women would be worried about what people thought of them if they were told they had HPV. Cervical cancer services need to help address this stigma.
• The HPV vaccine does not lead to increased sexual activity or increased sexual debut in either men or women. In a study conducted among 15 037 participants, no significant difference was observed in sexual activity between vaccinated and non-vaccinated girls.
• WHO estimates that it takes 15 - 20 years to develop cervical cancer for women with normal immune systems, or 5 - 10 years for women with weaker immune systems (like those living with untreated HIV).
As a result, cervical cancer can develop in women who have not recently been sexually active.
• HPV vaccines offer protection against cervical and other HPV-associated cancers but not against other sexually transmitted infections. While important in the protection against sexually transmitted diseases, condoms offer only very limited protection against transmission of HPV.
SOME PEOPLE SAY
Some people say Some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding cancer and HPV vaccination are as follows:
• Only promiscuous people get HPV.
• The HPV vaccine is needed only if a woman is sexually active.
• People cannot catch HPV if they use a condom.
• The HPV vaccine increases promiscuity or risky sexual behaviour.
• Risks of cervical cancer are lower if women have not been sexually active for a long time.
• HPV vaccine will protect against other infections. - Source: Conquering Cervical Cancer in the Commonwealth: Addressing Myths and Misconceptions
