How is human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnosed?
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Regular Pap smears during gynecological screening make it preventable. This benefit is due to the detection of asymptomatic premalignant lesions, whose diagnosis and treatment prevents their progression to invasive carcinoma, thus reducing their incidence and mortality.
Pap smears are recommended for all sexually active women over 25 years of age.
How is human papillomavirus (HPV) treated?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now known to be the leading cause of cervical cancer. It is a sexually transmitted infection and is the most common. HPV is so common that almost all sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives, even if they have sex with only one partner. They may also develop symptoms years after becoming infected, making it more difficult to know when they were first infected.
In most cases HPV disappears spontaneously without causing problems, but when it persists over time it can lead to genital warts or condylomas, or changes in cervical cells that can progress to cancer.
How can we prevent human papillomavirus (HPV)?
Fortunately, vaccination is now available to prevent the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers as well as some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina and oropharynx. Vaccination also prevents the types of HPV that cause most genital warts or condylomas. It should be noted that the vaccine is safe and effective.
Active vaccination is currently carried out in schools for girls between 11 and 12 years of age, before they become sexually active and are exposed to the virus. Sexually active females can also benefit from the vaccine as well as those who have already been treated for high-grade lesions.