Doing it too soon, the young girl regrets contracting the deadly virus

06/06/2022 08:38 GMT+7

HPV causes cancer

Nguyen Le H. 24 years old, from Lao Cai, came to the doctor because of burning pain during sex, lower abdomen and bleeding between periods. The doctor tested positive for HPV and cervical cancer.

H. froze because she didn’t think she had this disease because she was young, she and her boyfriend planned to get married next September. H. confided in the fact that she had had sex since she was 15 years old. Up to now, H. herself can’t remember how many sexual partners she has and had 3 abortions before the age of 20. For the past two years, H. has not had sex. sex like before but only with her boyfriend.

The doctor explained that because of early sex and a lifestyle with many sexual partners, H. contracted the HPV virus and caused cervical cancer.

Doctor CCII Nguyen Van Tien – Head of Department of Surgery and Gynecology, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital, said that compared to women who had sex after the age of 21, those who had sex were between the ages of 18 and 20 years old. Before the age of 18, the risk of cervical cancer increases by 1.5 times and 2 times, respectively.

Compared with women with 1 sexual partner, women with 2 partners have a 2-fold increased risk. This risk tripled in women with six or more sexual partners. Having sex with a high-risk partner, such as people with many other sexual partners, or people with HPV. In contrast, cervical cancer is less common in women whose sex partners are circumcised.

Illustration for the article.

According to Dr. Tien, cervical cancer is one of the leading cancers among common cancers among Vietnamese women in the previous decades, now it has decreased to the 7th place and the incidence and mortality rate is also decreased. Mortality decreased significantly thanks to only 2 national programs for cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination.

In the developed world, thanks to these two programs, cervical cancer morbidity and mortality have decreased by nearly 75% over the past 50 years. Today, 84% of cervical cancer cases are in developing countries.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women, it is the easiest cancer to detect at the earliest stage (stage 0) only by gynecological examination, HPV test and cancer type. There is a possibility of complete cure if detected early, if the stage is late, there are many treatment methods that can prolong life for many years.

Moreover, vaccination is necessary because of all cancers, the cause of which has not been found, only cervical cancer with more than 99% identified cause is caused by HPV virus.

Of the more than 40 types of HPV, only about 15 have been identified as carcinogens. Of these, 2 types 16 and 18 are found in 70% of cervical cancer cases.

Who needs vaccination?

According to BSCKII Nguyen Thi Minh Thanh – Deputy Head of the Department of Specialist Examination – Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, there are currently methods to prevent HPV infection such as vaccination and safe sex. However, HPV can also enter the genitals in areas that cannot be covered by a condom. This can reduce the risk of disease, but not completely.

Maintain a monogamous relationship. A healthy relationship and minimizing sexual partners is a good way to prevent HPV.

Those who need to be vaccinated against HPV are people between the ages of 11 and 26

For women: The vaccine is given to girls aged 9-12, but it can also be given to 26-year-old women who have never been vaccinated or did not receive the full dose of vaccine as children.

For men: The vaccine is given to boys aged 11-12 years and can also be used for men 21 years of age if they have never been vaccinated or had not received the full dose of vaccine as children. The vaccine is also recommended for men aged 26 years who are sexually active or have a weak immune system.

Dr. Thanh also added that like many other vaccines, HPV vaccination can also cause some allergic reactions, unwanted lesions such as: Pain, swelling, itching, redness at the injection site, mild fever, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting.

Khanh Chi