Even after the first sex for HPV vaccine

HPV vaccine also protects young adults from various cancers

07/18/2014

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are transmitted during sexual contacts and trigger different types of cancer. Most health insurances pay the HPV vaccine, however, only in girls aged 14 to 17 years. However, Christian Albring, president of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (BVF), points out that vaccination against these dangerous and widespread viruses is also useful for young adults who are already sexually active.

Human papillomaviruses can cause various cancers
„Human papilloma viruses are very common, "says Albring. „It is believed that between the ages of 20 and 30, up to 20 percent of all women, but also all men, are temporarily HPV-positive, often repeated. In most cases, the virus can be sufficiently controlled by the local defenses in the mucous membrane; But at some point in the future, an infection will eventually develop which, in the long run, causes malignant cell changes. "

Many young people are unaware that the sexually transmitted HPV can cause not only cervical and vaginal cancer, but also the oral cavity, intestinal exit, or penis. Vaccination protects the entire organism from the most common and risky HPV types 16 and 18, informs Albring. This is still useful if a woman or a man is already sexually active and have already undergone an infection with HPV. Because one „natural "infection with HPV only leads to the immunity of this one type of virus and probably only in the infected area.A permanent immunity for the entire organism does not exist.The vaccine on the other hand, a lasting, safe immune response is initiated, the gynecologist.

HPV vaccination can prevent 70 to 85 percent of the diseases
So far, the response to the vaccine but still too low. „Unfortunately, only 30 to 40 percent of all girls in Germany have been vaccinated since the vaccine was introduced in 2007. Many have been infected by the general vaccine fatigue in Germany and missed the deadlines in which the health insurance pay the vaccine, namely at the age of 14 to 17 years, "said Albring.Mit many cancers can be prevented, even if young Adults would still opt for the HPV vaccine. „Only occasionally pay health insurance, the vaccine until the age of 26, as the technicians health insurance and a few regional health insurers. The members of these health insurance companies should definitely accept the offer. For we know today that out of 1 000 girls and women who are not vaccinated, ten will develop cancer of the cervix during their lifetime and as many will develop cancer of the labia; every third of them will die from this disease“, admonishes the doctor. „With vaccination, we can prevent about 70 percent to 85 percent of the disease, namely those caused by HPV types 16 and 18. The vaccine definitely protects 14 out of every 1,000 women from getting cancer from HP viruses during their lifetime, and four out of every 1,000 women from dying from cancer.“ (Ag)