Lets talk HPV!
I know people want me to probably talk about vaccine that cures the pandemic we are going through. But let's come to that some other time.
I would like to mainly concentrate on vaccine against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) as it's the most underrated vaccines of our times. This virus causes a type of cancer in one of the part of the uterus (mainly cervix). It creates an environment and adapts into the environment of the cervix which leads to cellular changes and leads to a precancerous state which if not taken care of may lead to Cervical cancer over later years of your life.
I personally feel, the gap in this knowledge is pertaining to the restrictions of the type of culture we are born and brought up in. A typical Indian Family or Mother/Father to daughter/Son discussion will probably be as follows:
"Beta, you are 21 years and almost have reached an age where you should get married"
In Rural India, forget if they even can reach their 20's, and they get rid of their daughters even before that.
Not even a single mother or father talks to their children about having an healthy approach to their Sexual Activities. This not only applies to teenage groups but also to those belonging to an age group between 21-29 years and upto 65 years of age group. There is a stigma, still there is persistent hesitation among people/communities with respect to approaching Doctors for the same.
So as a Gynecologist it's my responsibility to first create an awareness about this healthy approach and it has to begin with Screening.
What is this screening process?
It's called Pap-Smear /cervical cytology (low cost/ free at varied institutions)
*This Screening begins at the age of 21 years regardless of any particular risk factors.
*This should be continued at an interval of 3 years upto the age of 29 years.
*If you are beyond 29 years... you need to take the screening every 3 years upto the age of 65 years atleast.
A screening is called adequate when 3 pap tests done back to back are negative in the prior 10 years with most recent within 5 years.
This is necessary because the whole process of Viral infection turning into precancerous to cancerous state takes a long process.
Ofcourse there are many more things to this which cannot be discussed at this platform.
You can definitely stop the screening after the age of 65 years.
Something much easier is always around the corner isn't it.
Why not take the vaccine instead?
HPV vaccine is the most reliable and the most promising vaccine, have excellent safety profiles, well tolerated, and can be administered with other recommended vaccines.
Three HPV vaccines are FDA approved:
-Cervarix (Against serotype 16 and 18)
- Gardasil (Against serotype 6, 11, 16 and 18)
- Gardasil 9 (Against serotypes 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58)
You can opt the vaccine based on the number of serotypes it covers, with Gardasil 9 being the best.
******Age group:
******Should be ideally given to girls at the age of 11-12 years (as early as 9 years),
Can be recommended for women not vaccinated at an early age as well upto ***45 years of Age.
IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED DURING PREGNANCY, BUT CAN BE GIVEN DURING BREAST FEEDING PERIOD.
No booster dose required as well.
You will receive 3 doses, (Intramuscular) over a period of 6 months
First dose: 0 dose
Second dose: after 2months of the first dose
Third dose: this final dose is given 6 months after the First dose.
So Folks (again sorry for this informal address).........So Husband's - Talk to your wife, talk you your partner, Mother's/Father's : Talk to your daughter/son, about this and spread this bit of awareness from your end too. Have a conversation on long journeys, during train travels, probably during office lunch hours, a long lost busy friend who you are video chatting with..... and create awareness within and in the surrounding bu asking just one question? Did you try protecting your/her "Cervix"?
~ Dr.atp
P.S.: "I belong to the community of Doctors where I have a Right to Freedom of Speech when it comes to creating awareness"