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What
is the HPV Vaccine? |
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The HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer
and other diseases in females caused by certain
types of genital human papillomavirus (HPV).
There are currently two HPV vaccines available,
namely Gardasil and Cervarix. The two vaccines
protect against two to four types of HPV that
are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers.
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Who
Should Receive the HPV Vaccine? |
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The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls
as young as 9 years of age. Ideally, the vaccine
should be administered before the onset of
sexual activity. However, females who are
already sexaully active may also benefit from
vaccination.
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Is
the HPV Vaccine Safe? |
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Both Cervarix and Gardasil are licenced by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for
its use. It has also been tested and will
continue to be studied in many countries around
the world. The HPV vaccines were found to
be safe and caused no serious side effects.
You should discuss individual concerns with
your doctor before receiving the vaccination.
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Should I be Tested Before Vaccination? |
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Screening for HPV is not required before
receiving the HPV vaccine. The chance of having
been infected by more than one type of HPV
is minimal. Any women can get various degrees
of benefits from vaccination, regardless of
whether they have been previously infected
or not.
Your doctor may ask you a few questions about
your health status before giving you the HPV
vaccine. You should discuss individual concerns
with your doctor before receiving the vaccination.
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Do
I Still Need Regular Screening After Vaccination? |
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Yes! The HPV vaccine can protect you from
up to about 70% of cervical cancers. To fully
protect yourself, you should continue to have
regular Pap smear tests even after vaccination.
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Useful
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