HPV, or as it is scientifically known, human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted disease. Considered the most common sexually transmitted disease, studies show that at least 50% of the general population has acquired some type of HPV at least once in their life.

The disease is not transmitted only through penetration during sexual intercourse; it can be contracted through oral sex or even through intimate contact and caressing. Therefore, teenagers and adults, even virgins, who have contact with someone infected can also acquire the disease.

That’s why using condoms is recommended as one of the safest ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases in general. Vaccines have now been developed against the most frequent types of HPV, such as those that cause cervical cancer. This vaccine aims to prevent HPV infection by stimulating higher production of antibodies that fight each type of the disease. Being a new vaccine on the market with few studies and research, it is still unknown how long immunity lasts after vaccination, with laboratories indicating an average duration of 5 years.

ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) recommends that the HPV vaccine be given to girls from 9 up to 13 years of age, especially to those who have not yet started their sexual life, thus ensuring greater effectiveness of the medication. A great number of pregnant women ask their doctors daily about this vaccine, whether they should get it or not. The answer is no, because due to a lack of sufficient studies, there is no guarantee that the substance in the vaccine is not harmful to either the mother or the fetus, so the HPV vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women.

Pros and Cons of the HPV Vaccine

There has been a lot of discussion about the HPV vaccine, with many cases reported of girls feeling unwell after receiving the vaccine, causing fainting and discomfort. In addition to reports of girls who became paralyzed and even rendered in a vegetative state, many mothers are fighting in court to prove that these health issues are related to the reaction to the vaccine. So far, nothing has been proven, with claims that these cases are merely coincidences in which the girls developed neurological and motor problems, some reaching an almost vegetative state. The HPV vaccine has no contraindications, except for people who are allergic to any component of the medication.

The purpose of the HPV vaccine is to protect girls from a disease that has recently killed millions of women. But due to a lack of research and proof of the medication’s effectiveness, many mothers feel insecure about allowing their daughters to receive the vaccine. The HPV vaccine should be given in 3 doses. If it is the bivalent vaccine, the second dose should be administered after one month and the third dose after five months. If it is the quadrivalent vaccine, the second dose should be applied after two months and the third after six months. In the SUS (Unified Health System), the applications are given on a more extended schedule: the second dose is administered only 6 months after the first and the third dose only 5 years later.

We must also stress that the vaccine does not eliminate the need for the Pap smear. This exam detects uterine problems such as cancer and cervical infections, and it should be done annually by sexually active women. The government’s intention in making the HPV vaccine available is to immunize girls who have not yet had contact with the virus, protecting them until they reach the age when routine health exams will be required, obviously being advised about the use of condoms to help prevent not just HPV but also other sexually transmitted diseases. But the decision to authorize the vaccine for your daughter is entirely up to you and your level of confidence, since it is not a mandatory vaccine.

See also: Cervical Infection – How to Detect It?

Photo: VCU CNS, Pan American Health