Can a person develop cervical cancer and genital warts even if you have been vaccinated? Is it necessary to perform a HPV test if you are vaccinated? The answer to both questions is yes. Even if vaccinated, it remains necessary for women to have be tested for HPV. This is mainly because:
* The vaccine does not offer complete protection. There are approximately 15 types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Cervarix and Gardasil (in countries in which they are approved) are designed to protect against the two virus types that cause 70% of all cervical cancers. However, they can not fully protect women against 30% of cervical cancers that are caused by other types of "high risk" HPV. * The vaccine cannot protect everyone. HPV is transmitted through skin contact and sexual intimacy. Therefore, current research suggests that to be fully effective vaccine should be administered before girls become sexually active. In other words, the ideal time for vaccination is adolescence. * There are many questions. For example, it is unclear whether it will be necessary to administer a dose to refresh the "memory" of the vaccine beyond the normal level to ensure continuous protection.
For this reason, vaccination, cytology and HPV testing are essential tools to combat cervical cancer.
How does the vaccine work? What protection does it offer? Gardasil and Cervarix protects against two HPV types that cause 70% of cervical cancers (types 16 and 18). Also, Gardasil protects against two types that cause most genital wart symptoms (6 and 11). However, it has been shown that the vaccine is not effective in the case of HPV infections already present due to prior sexual relations. Therefore, the protection provided is incomplete and it is necessary for women to have regular reviews.
How long will the vaccine protect us? So far, studies have shown that the protection offered by Gardasil and Cervarix (in countries in which they are approved) lasts at least five years.
Who should be vaccinated against HPV? It has been shown not to be completely effective to vaccinate women who have already been exposed to viruses against which it is addressed. Therefore, it is better that women be vaccinated before sexual debut.
A note about men: men also get HPV and can pass the virus to women. But no vaccine has been authorized yet. So far there is no evidence that the vaccine can protect them from having genital warts or developing HPV-related cancers (such as penile cancer, which is rare) or that can prevent HIV transmission to women.
