HPV Vaccine FAQ

about Cervical Cancer

1. What is Cervical cancer?
2. The symptoms of cervical cancer?
3. Cervical cancer causes?
4. Who is likely to infect cervical cancer?
5. Are there ways to prevent cervical cancer?

about HPV Vaccine

1. Is cervical cancer caused by genetic? Are there ways to avoid it?
2. When should I inject the HPV vaccine?
3. Will HPV Vaccine affect the development and menstruation of girl after vaccination?
4. Is cervical cancer vaccine valid for women who has passed 26 years old and have started sex / the women have been infected?
5. Will people not infected HPV if they have regular partners, do not have sexual promiscuity and use a condom every time?
6. Is it enough to prevent cervical cancer only by having regular Pap smears test?
7. Can pregnant women accept cervical cancer vaccination?
8. Do I need to inject booster regularly after the HPV vaccination?
9. Does cervical cancer vaccine have side effects?
10. Is HPV vaccine safe?

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about Cervical Cancer

1.What is Cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer in the world. In 2005, new cases of cervical cancer exceed over 5 million and nearly 260,000 women die of this cancer. In Hong Kong, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women for 450 new cases in 2005, the number of deaths is about 150 people each year.

• Cervical cancer is a cancer affecting the cervix
• "Vicious" or "aggressive" means the tumor from the surface of the cervix invades more deeply to tissue
• Can spread to adjacent organs (e.g., vagina, neural, and renal pelvis), and finally spread to distant organs, such as the liver, lung and brain

2.The symptoms of cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer may have no symptoms, some cases are only found in routinecheck-up.

The early symptoms are mainly:

1. unusual or irregular vaginal bleeding
2. between menstrual periods or bleeding after sexual intercourse.

Later stage symptoms include:

1) back pain, leg edema, urinary or bowel problems, etc. 2) 3)
2) During clinical examination, the doctor will find the patient's groin or neck lymph nodes swollen
3) both the vagina and rectum appear abnormal passage

3.Cervical cancer causes?
Cervical cancer is not a genetic disease. 99.7% of cervical cancer in the world is related to HPV (human papilloma virus), which is the main cause of this cancer. Persistent infection with oncogenic types of HPV can lead to cervical cancer. For instance, HPV types 16 and 18 account above 70% of the cause of cervical cancer.

4. Who is likely to infect cervical cancer?
HPV infection is very common. Any women who have sexual life have the opportunity to come into contact one type of cervical HPV.

Other high-risk factors:

• Smoking
• Women with poor economic and living conditions
• Women with low immunity, chronic kidney disease, or any other immune system problems
• Long-term use of oral birth-control pills
• High number of pregnancy

5.Are there ways to prevent cervical cancer?
HPV vaccine injections plus regular cervical cancer test is the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer.

• Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke
• Regular Pap tests
• Inject cervical cancer vaccine
• Maintain monogamous
• The use of condoms to reduce the risk of HPV infection
• Avoid having sex too early because the immature cervix is more susceptible to HPV infection.

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about HPV Vaccine

1.Is cervical cancer caused by genetic? Are there ways to avoid it?

• Cervical cancer is not a genetic disease. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer.
• Risk has already existed at the very beginning when sexual contact first occurs.
• HPV is not only sexually transmitted; genital skin contact alone can already infect HPV.
• Women have multiple sexual partners have higher risk of infection.
• Injection of cervical cancer vaccine is effective in preventing infection.

2.When should I inject the HPV vaccine?
It is the best time to inject HPV vaccine before HPV infection become possible because HPV infection is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse. Hence, it is preferable to inject it before sexual contact.

3.Will HPV Vaccine affect the development and menstruation of girl after vaccination?

Antibody level is higher if get vaccinated earlier. It is preferable no sex before vaccination. The best inoculation time is at the age of 10 to 14.

Vaccine will not affect the development and menstruation and it is also tested through large-scale clinical trials.

4. Is cervical cancer vaccine valid for women who has passed 26 years old and have started sex / the women have been infected?

• Vaccine inoculation registered age in Hong Kong has increased to nine years old onward.
• Although the vaccine has failed to cure an infection, but it can prevent further infection in the future.
• The women have been affected by HPV infection after vaccination can still protect them from HPV infection, minimizing the risk of persistent infection evolving into cervical cancer.

5. Will people not infected HPV if they have regular partners, do not have sexual promiscuity and use a condom every time?

• Women with a regular partner still have a chance infected with HPV virus.
• Using condom cannot fully prevent HPV infection.

6. Is it enough to prevent cervical cancer only by having regular Pap smears test?

• Pap smear screening can only be used to verify whether the lesions of cervical cells exists and whether it is unable to prevent HPV infection. Vaccination is effective in preventing HPV infection.
• Women who has been injected the HPV vaccine also need to take regular Pap smears test to ensure that there is no HPV infection.

7. Can pregnant women accept cervical cancer vaccination?

It is not recommended for pregnant women to accept cervical cancer vaccination. If women unwanted pregnancy after injection, the injection should be stopped and regular check on pregnant women and fetal safety is needed. Then continue vaccination after pregnancy.

8. Do I need to inject booster regularly after the HPV vaccination?

Manufacturer is conducting follow-up studies for more information and examine whether booster is needed.

9. Does cervical cancer vaccine have side effects?

Common side effects are tenderness around the position of injection, redness and swelling or fever, etc. They are usually minor and transient.

10. Is HPV vaccine safe?

It is safe. Cervical Cancer Vaccine have been tested through many women worldwide under clinical research, and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is no record of any serious side effects. More common effect is the injection site produces pain, redness and pain.

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