1. How prevalent is cervical cancer in South Africa, and why is the HPV vaccine especially important in a country such as ours?

80% of women would have been infected with HPV by the age of 50 years/ HPV is the leading cause for virtually all cervical cancers and anal cancers. In South Africa, in the year 2012

  • 7,735 women developed cervical cancer1
  • 4,248 women died from cervical cancer1

RSA women lifetime risk of cervical cancer:

1 in 422

 

  1. When it comes to the vaccine, what are your options (brands) and which strains of the virus do these vaccines guard against?

There are currently 2 vaccines on the market: A quadrivalent vaccine called Gaurdasil that immunizes patient against HPV 16 and 18 (the cancer forming viruses) and 6 and 11 (which cause genital warts) A bivalent vaccine called Cervarix which immunizes patients against HPV 16 and 18 and has some cross protection of some other high risk HP viruses that cause cancer.

 

  1. Obviously, it is ideal if the vaccine is given to girls before they become sexually active, but is it still worth getting at a later stage (depending on the number of sexual partners you have had)? Or, to put that differently, is there maximum age at which you can get the vaccine?

The ideal age for girls and boys to receive the vaccine is between the ages of 9 and 11 which is likely to be before sexual debut. There is no upper age limit but he general recommendation is up to the age of 26. The ideal time for the most effective results of HPV vaccines is before the person has been infected with any of the viruses.

 

  1. People often have concerns around vaccines and safety. Are there any side effects to the HPV vaccines that people should be aware of?

There has been broad media excitement about side effects of the vaccines but the bottom line is they are safe. A common side effect is that of swelling at the site of injection.

  1. If you have been vaccinated is it still necessary to go for regular pap smears?

Papsmears are still necessary after the vaccines as cervical cancers can still form in these patients on rare occasions. A woman’s first papsmear should be at the age of 21 or a year after sexual debut.

Dr Lindeque’s practice is at: Suite 8 San Hall Office Park, Kirsty close, Ballito.

Tel: (032) 586 0723,
email: reception@drlindeque.co.za