Cervical cancer is a relatively common gynecological malignancy with a high incidence rate and will cause great harm to women’s health. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is currently an effective means of preventing cervical cancer. Next, let us learn about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine together.
What is cervical
cancer Cervical cancer, also known as cervical cancer, refers to malignant tumors that occur at the junction of squamous epithelial cells in the cervicovaginal or transition zone and columnar epithelial cells in the endocervical canal. Studies have shown that HPV is a major risk factor for cervical cancer. There are many types of HPV in nature, and there are more than 100 known types, of which more than 30 can cause infection around the genitals of men and women. Clinically, according to the carcinogenicity of HPV, it is divided into low-risk and high-risk types. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 13 high-risk HPV types, including HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33, HPV35, HPV39, HPV45, HPV51, HPV52, HPV56, HPV58, HPV59, and HPV68.
Many people believe that only people with complicated sex lives can get HPV. In fact, the transmission route of HPV also includes close contact, such as kissing, HPV may be transmitted through exchange of body fluids; indirect contact infection, such as sharing the same toilet with an infected person, or touching the clothes, daily necessities and utensils of an infected person etc.; mother-to-child transmission route, that is, the infection caused by the baby passing through the birth canal of an HPV-positive pregnant woman.
Cervical cancer hazards and prevention and control measures
Cervical cancer hazards
Cervical cancer not only affects the quality of life of patients, but may also lead to organ failure and even endanger life safety. After being diagnosed with cervical cancer, patients may experience irregular vaginal bleeding, fluid, bloody or watery discharge, accompanied by foul odor, which seriously affects the quality of daily life. When cervical cancer develops to the middle and late stages, patients may experience dizziness, fatigue, weight loss, anorexia and other symptoms due to anemia and cachexia, which may cause organ failure, such as liver and kidney failure. With the metastasis and spread of cancer cells, the mortality rate of patients is increased.
Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer
Although cervical cancer has a high morbidity and mortality rate, the occurrence and development of cervical cancer can be prevented through regular cervical cancer screening, understanding of cervical lesions, early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment.
Primary prevention and control: HPV vaccination
The role of HPV vaccine is mainly to prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer. After HPV vaccination, it can induce the body’s humoral immune response, produce neutralizing antibodies, combine with the invading HPV virus antigen, prevent HPV infection, and thus achieve the purpose of preventing cervical cancer.
Secondary prevention and control:
screening Before the introduction of HPV vaccine, the prevention of cervical cancer mainly relied on screening, such as cervical TCT examination or HPV detection, to check the cervical lesions. Annual cervical cancer screening can detect and treat cervical precancerous lesions early and control the progression of the disease. Cervical TCT examination is a commonly used method for cervical cancer screening in clinic. It is mainly to observe the exfoliated cells of the cervix through smears to see whether there are lesions in the cervix. HPV testing mainly checks for HPV infection. Because women infected with high-risk HPV are 250 times more likely to develop cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer than those who are negative, HPV testing is of great significance in cervical cancer screening. If you are infected with high-risk HPV, you should perform colposcopy or repeat cervical TCT and HPV detection within 1 year according to the type.
HPV vaccine
HPV vaccine, also known as cervical cancer vaccine, can protect women from the harm of HPV virus and reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Currently, there are three main types of HPV vaccines.
(1) Bivalent HPV vaccine: It can prevent two high-risk HPV types, HPV16 and HPV18. The bivalent vaccine is mainly suitable for women aged 9 to 45. (2) Quadrivalent HPV vaccine: In addition to preventing HPV16 and HPV18, it can also prevent HPV6 and HPV11. This type of vaccine is mainly suitable for vaccination of women aged 9 to 45. (3) Nine-valent HPV vaccine: It can prevent 9 types of HPV, including HPV16, HPV18, HPV6, HPV11, HPV31, HPV33, HPV45, HPV52, and HPV58, and can effectively prevent more than 90% of cervical cancers. This type of vaccine is mainly suitable for vaccination of women aged 16 to 45.
Vaccine Type Bivalent Vaccine Quadrivalent Vaccine Nine-valent Vaccine
Suitable for ages 9 to 45, 9 to 45, 16 to 45
to prevent HPV types HPV16, HPV18, HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18, HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33, HPV45, HPV52, and HPV58
can prevent diseases and can prevent malignant tumors in the lower reproductive tract and anus caused by HPV16 and HPV18 lesions. In addition to preventing malignant tumors in the lower genital tract and perianal areas induced by HPV16 and HPV18, it can also prevent genital warts in the lower genital tract and perianal areas caused by HPV6 and HPV11. It is used to prevent cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer, genital warts, persistent infection, precancerous lesions or atypical lesions caused by the above nine HPVs.
Answers to frequently asked questions about HPV vaccines
How choose the type of HPV vaccine
The bivalent, quadrivalent and nine-valent HPV vaccines currently available on the market can all prevent HPV16 and HPV18, two high-risk types of HPV. Compared with the nine-valent vaccine, the supply of bivalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccines is sufficient. Therefore, when choosing a vaccine, you should not only refer to age, but also consider the difficulty of vaccination appointments, so as to avoid missing the best one while waiting for multivalent vaccines. The age of HPV vaccination, early vaccination is the best choice.
After completion of HPV vaccination, is it still necessary to screen regularly?
Although HPV vaccine has a good preventive effect on HPV, there is still a risk of HPV infection. Therefore, regular cervical cancer screening is required to minimize the impact of HPV on women. health hazard.
Can HPV vaccination be vaccinated during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
So far no HPV vaccination has been found to affect mothers and fetuses (babies). However, since pregnancy and breastfeeding are relatively short periods, women can wait until this period has passed before getting vaccinated.
Do I need to be tested for HPV before receiving HPV vaccine? Relevant studies
have confirmed that vaccination of HPV-infected patients can also prevent HPV re-infection and prevent other uninfected HPV types. Therefore, HPV screening may not be required before receiving the HPV vaccine.
Precautions for HPV vaccination Before
vaccination
Women who have not been vaccinated against HPV can choose the appropriate vaccination according to their age and needs. Before vaccination, it is necessary to screen for allergies to vaccine ingredients, maintain a normal diet, and avoid affecting the health of the body.
After inoculation
(1) you need to stay for 1 hour, and you can leave if you don’t feel unwell. (2) Pay attention to ensure the cleanliness of the injection site to avoid infection. (3) Avoid lifting heavy objects in a short period of time, and pay attention to rest and maintain a good attitude. (4) Maintain a healthy diet and prohibit eating spicy and irritating food, so as not to affect the vaccination effect.
