HPV infections cause six types of cancers in both women and men. Most people will be infected with HPV at least once during their lifetime. The incidence is the highest between the ages of 15 and 25. There is no cure for HPV infection, but it can be effectively prevented by vaccination.
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are viruses that most sexually active people are exposed to. There are more than 200 different genotypes of HPV, of which about 45 genotypes cause infections of the genitals, reproductive organs, anus, and oropharynx.
In most cases, HPV infection is without symptoms or signs, but it can lead to precancerous and cancerous lesions. HPV is the leading cause of genital warts and cervical cancer, but has also been linked to other cancers and oropharyngeal papilloma in both men and women.
HPV is transmitted by close contact with the skin or mucous membranes of an infected person, most commonly during sex. Most sexually active people will be infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime. Most people become infected soon after starting sexual activity, so the incidence is the highest in adolescents and young adults aged between 15 and 25 years. Infection is common in both men and women.
As most infections are without symptoms or signs, most people do not even know they are infected with HPV, but can still pass the infection on to their sexual partner. You can be infected with HPV even if your partner has no symptoms or signs of infection.
HPV infections cause six types of cancer. These are cervical cancer, penile cancer, vaginal cancer, cancer of the external female genitalia, anal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer in both women and men.
The most common cancer caused by HPV infection is cervical cancer. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer (99%) are causally linked to HPV infection. Cervical cancer is the 11th most common cancer in women and the fourth most common cancer in young women (aged 25–49) in Europe, occurring especially in younger women of childbearing age.
In Slovenia, 110 to 120 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and between 50 and 50 die. In addition, over 1,600 women a year in Slovenia undergo surgery for precancerous lesions detected as a result of long-term infection with one of the more dangerous HPV genotypes.
One can reduce their chance of HPV infection by following the ABC principle of safe and healthy sex:
A – “Abstain” or postponing first sexual intercourse to a period of greater maturity, with a partner you know and trust;
B – “Be faithful” or two-partner fidelity (people who have more than one sexual partner in their lives have a higher risk of HPV infection and other sexually transmitted infections);
C – “use a Condom”, its correct and consistent use to protect against both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (the condom significantly reduces the risk of HPV infection, but does not completely prevent it due to the presence of HPV elsewhere on the skin and mucous membranes).
One of the most effective measures to prevent HPV infection and its consequences is the HPV vaccine.
There is no cure for HPV infection. However, diseases that arise as a result of HPV infection, such as cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer as well as genital warts, can be treated.
It is possible to protect yourself against HPV infection by getting vaccinated. The 9-valent vaccine is available in Slovenia. This protects against the seven most common and dangerous HPV genotypes, which cause precancerous lesions and cervical cancer, as well as some genital, rectal and oropharyngeal cancers. The vaccine also protects against two HPV genotypes that cause genital warts.
HPV vaccination is administered at the time of the systematic check-up for girls and boys attending grade 6 of primary school, as well as for girls and boys who have not yet been vaccinated, at the time of the systematic check-up in the 1st and 3rd year of secondary school. Young people under the age of 26 who have not yet been vaccinated can also be vaccinated free of charge.
For everyone else who would like to protect themselves against HPV, the vaccination is a self-pay option.
The HPV vaccine provides highly effective, safe and long-lasting protection against infection with the HPV genotypes contained in the vaccine. This is supported by research results and data from countries with high prevalence rates. So far, these countries have seen a decrease in the incidence of genital HPV infections in young populations, a decrease in the incidence of genital warts in young women and men, a decrease in the incidence of cervical precancerous lesions and a decrease in the incidence of HPV associated cancers in vaccinated women compared to unvaccinated women.
The results of HPV vaccination in Slovenia are also visible, but would be much more encouraging if vaccination coverage would be higher.
Vaccination is most effective when individuals have not yet been exposed to HPV. Also, the immune response to HPV vaccination is best between the ages of nine and 15 years. At that time, two doses of the vaccine are sufficient for protection. For those aged 15 years and older, three doses of HPV vaccine are required.
Research has shown that women who were vaccinated in early adolescence have a nearly 90% lower incidence of cervical cancer compared to unvaccinated women. Women who were vaccinated later in life (at older ages) had lower vaccination effectiveness.
HPV infection can cause cancer of the anus, penis, oropharynx and genital warts in men. Vaccinating boys against HPV infections can reduce the incidence of these conditions. Good vaccination coverage of both sexes is important to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the incidence of certain cancers and other HPV-related diseases in young people.
Choosing not to vaccinate can have consequences for your child’s health. An individual who has not been vaccinated has a significantly higher risk of developing certain cancers or precancerous lesions, as well as a higher risk of other HPV-related diseases and complications after treatment.
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Further information on the detection and treatment of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix: National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (Državni program zgodnjega odkrivanja predrakavih sprememb materničnega vratu – ZORA)
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