HPV: how we can prevent Papillomavirus infections

It is a fundamental weapon for women’s health. This is the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (Human Papillomavirus – HPV), a virus of which over 200 types are known, which can strike at any age, even males, and very often we are unaware healthy carriers, because they are asymptomatic.

Once the contagion has occurred, the infection can manifest itself with warts on the skin, benign genital warts, but also with tumors such as carcinoma of the uterine cervix, anogenital, and mouth-throat tumors (depending precisely on the type or types present). We talk about papillomavirus and vaccine prevention with Dr. Carlo Liverani , gynecologist at Humanitas San Pio X.

How does the infection with this virus occur?

The main route of contagion is sexually, but not through seminal fluid as in the case of HIV, but through skin-skin or skin-mucous membrane contact . Once the infection has occurred, the incubation of the virus can last for a variable period of a few weeks up to a few years, therefore it is difficult to establish when and from whom the infection occurred.

How can we know if we have come into contact with the papillomavirus?

HPV infection does not always give symptoms to those who contract it. However, the presence of mycosis, trichomonas and vaginosis infections could constitute a favorable ground for papillomaviruses. However, it is important to underline that many of the lesions (80%) of which the HPV virus is responsible regress spontaneously. In other cases, the lesions can usually take from 7 to 15 years to evolve into tumors.

Why do some women have symptoms and others are asymptomatic?

Symptoms are generally due to the presence of other superimposed infections, while papillomaviruses do not cause discharge, burning or bleeding. Floride warts can cause discomfort, while pretumor lesions never give signs of themselves (when they bleed after intercourse, then it means that we are already dealing with an advanced case).

HPV infection alone is not enough to cause cancer. The lesions can worsen as a result of a weakening of the immune defenses due, for example to debilitating chronic diseases, after a transplant, autoimmune diseases, prolonged cortisone therapies or immunosuppressant drugs, or even an incorrect lifestyle or excessive stress levels .

In the absence of symptoms, what tests to do to find out the infection?

A sexually active woman should have a Pap smear every 3 years or an HPV test every 5 years to detect any precancerous lesions. Today there is a tendency to prefer the HPV test, with the Pap test performed only in positive cases. The HPV test reveals only the presence of one type of virus, while the Pap test reveals any cellular lesions caused by the persistence of the virus. In case of suspicion, the gynecologist may request diagnostic tests of the lesions, such as colposcopy or biopsy. Subsequently, the frequency of examinations and tests will be established by the treating gynecologist.

How can we protect ourselves from the HPV virus?

In contrast to HIV, condom use can reduce but not eliminate the risk of transmission to uninfected partners. In fact, the infection can also be transmitted to the woman from areas of the penile shaft not covered by a condom, from the groin, from the scrotum, from the pubis.

This is why the HPV vaccination represents the main protection shield. This must be practiced before coming into contact with the virus and is a fundamental weapon of prevention for women’s health.

To combat HPV infection, vaccination is recommended for girls and boys from the age of 11 , i.e. before the start of sexual activity, so that the vaccine prevents the papillomavirus from activating that modification process in case of infection cervical cell that could become cancer. However, vaccination can be carried out both at an older age and after contracting the infection , as the vaccine also helps to reduce relapses, as it is able to greatly increase the level of antibodies against these viruses.

Is the vaccine safe?

Safe and effective. With regard to safety, just think that any adverse reactions of the vaccine such as headache, fever, pain at the injection site disappear in a few days, while HPV infection, according to data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, in Italy it is responsible for 70% of cervical cancers, and 5-10% of infected women develop infections that lead to precancerous lesions of the uterus neck.

Is the vaccine safe even during pregnancy and while breastfeeding?

According to the guidelines of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità , the anti-HPV vaccination can be carried out safely for the mother and the baby during breastfeeding, while there are currently no sufficient studies to recommend it during pregnancy. Other cases in which vaccination precautions are mentioned are severe yeast allergies, and the presence of severe or moderate acute illness even without fever, in which case vaccination will have to be postponed.

Along with vaccination, what can we do to prevent infection?

Maintaining a healthy and strong immune system can help build protection against infection. Therefore, and not only against HPV infection, it is recommended to consult your doctor for any advice on how to intervene to support the immune system. Finally, using a condom during sex is an effective way to limit the spread of papillomaviruses and other sexually transmitted diseases .