The story appears on

Page B5

September 27, 2018

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Feature » iDEAL

HPV screening remains important

Despite the widespread availability of HPV vaccines against cervical cancer, medical experts say self-awareness and regular screening are still important for disease prevention and control.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is very common. Over 150 types of HPV have been identified. However, only some types are known to cause health problems such as genital warts and cancers.

Vaccination is useful for cervical cancer prevention, but vaccination can’t replace early and regular screening, medical experts say.

Currently, all the HPV 2, 4 and 9-valent vaccines are marketed in Chinese mainland.

There are 100,000 new cases of cervical cancer in the nation every year with 30,000 death cases annually. Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among Chinese women aged between 15 and 44.

Cervical cancer, which is mostly transmitted sexually by several types of HPV, can be easily prevented.

It is also so far the only cancer the cause of which is known and which can be prevented with a vaccine.

“Sexually active young women, those with multiple partners and those who have unprotected sex have higher risk of HPV infection,” said Dr Wu Dan from the Shanghai International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital.

“Primary prevention including health education and vaccination among girls and women at a young age is effective for cervical cancer prevention,” added Wu.

Regular screening and timely diagnosis and treatment for pre-cancer among women aged over 25 are important for cervical cancer prevention and control.

“The current HPV vaccine can’t prevent all HPV infection, so regular screening for women with an active sex life is still important even if they have been vaccinated,” the doctor said.

“For women in puberty or of birth age, vaccination and screening are both vital. For women aged over 45 years old, screening is more important.”

HPV screening includes a Pap test and an HPV test.




 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend