While many people are aware that Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines prevent cervical cancer, a new study showed a lesser known benefit; women who received the HPV vaccine face a much lower risk of precancerous lesions than those who did not get vaccinated.
Vaccinated women and girls were 37% less likely to develop precancerous legions of the vagina or vulva than individuals who didn’t get at least one dose of the vaccine. Individuals who got vaccinated before turning 16 saw the most benefit, reducing their likelihood of precancerous legions by 57% versus those who never received the vaccine.
“The evidence is very clear,” said Yunyang Deng and Jiayao Lei, two of the study’s authors. “Serious side effects are extremely rare, and large studies have found no link to adverse pregnancy outcomes, autoimmune disease, or long-term health problems. What we do see, consistently across several countries, is a sharp drop in HPV infections, precancerous changes, and cancer after vaccination.”
HPV spreads by close skin to skin contact. About 8 in 10 women and 9 in 10 men who are sexually active get exposed to the virus in their lifetime. Although most of these infections are handled by the immune system, in some cases infections persist, which raises risk of cancer. Although HPV in women gets more of the headlines, HPV doesn’t just cause cancers in women. Men with HPV are more susceptible to cancers of the penis and anus, as well as the head and neck area.
Over 42 million Americans carry one or more type of HPV associated with heightened disease risk, such as genital warts and cancer. And, 47,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with a disease tied to HPV.
Full Story: CIDRAP, JAMA Oncology
