By: Mackenzie Horsley

At some point or another, we have seen in the media cautioning the vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). As with any other vaccination, some scrutinization has led some parents and caregivers to forgo this cancer-preventing vaccine. Before we dive into the vaccine, let’s start with the basics.

What is HPV?

• HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) 20 million affected per year, 6.2 million new infections each year (Hockenberry et. al, 2013).

• HPV is essentially the cause of all cervical cancer. Symptoms of HPV can and are typically nonexistent until it is too late.

• Signs and symptoms may include:

1. genital lesions
2. warts
3. vaginal discharge
4. itchiness
5. bleeding after sex. (S. Ricci, 2017)

How can I prevent HPV?

• Reducing risks include:

1. condom use
2. getting tested
3. lowering the number of sexual partners (over 1 can increase risk)
4. receiving a vaccination (Womenshealth.gov).

• There are two tests used for the identification of cervical cancer:

1. Pap smear: identify precancerous and cancerous cells of the cervix.
2. HPV test: which identifies HPV infections that lead to cancer (Henry et. Al, 2016).

• 70–90% of HPV-related infections resolve within 1–2 years in most healthy individuals, screening should begin at age 21, regardless of sexual activity, and repeated every 3 years. While screening younger than the age of 21 years may occur for individuals with a weakened immune system. (Holder et al., 2019)

The Dreaded Vaccine

• The CDC recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years (or can start as early as age 9) and for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already.

• The vaccine is a two-dose series.

•  The earlier the vaccine is administered the greater the protection (Holder et al., 2019).

• Targeting early adolescents for education leads to an increase in vaccination. Education and counseling are key, as education leads to prevention (S Ricci, 2017).

Collecting information about the HPV Vaccine

As with any health care decision, research is key. Unfortunately, though you cannot believe everything you see and hear on the internet.  What kind of research is displayed on a social media site when someone looks up the HPV vaccine?  Let’s take Pinterest for example, a social media blog site that many adolescents use. Guidry et al. (2020) explain that when the HPV vaccine is searched on Pinterest the site supplies readers with misinformation. The site does not have persistent filters that allow only credible information leading to firm views about anti-vaxxing or displaying nonrelated vaccines resulting in deception.

On the flip side, many websites do contain reliable information about HPV and the vaccine.

Here are a few below:

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pap-hpv-tests

This website is for women’s health and outlines HPV and also basic questions concerning exams and results.

https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm

This website is supplied from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) which also outlines HPV.

https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine.html

This website also from the CDC focuses on the vaccine.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/infectious-agents/hpv/what-parents-should-know-about-the-hpv-vaccines.html

This website is useful because it also outlines the vaccine from another source, the American Cancer Society.

All this research does not fall on your lap, your primary and women’s health doctors are a wealth of knowledge should you have any concerns. Sheaves (2016) offers providers the opportunity to discuss the option of providing handouts and combining them with an educational video. The combination of video and handouts led to increased knowledge and participation in the HPV vaccine. Communication is key when discussing your options, you are not alone.

After this, you are still probably asking….

Should I really get the vaccine?

Above is a video by Dr. Mike Evans where he goes into great detail explaining the HPV vaccine. This video gives another breakdown of HPV and the vaccine using animations and cartoons.

You might be asking Why should you trust this guy?

Dr. Mike Evans is the founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Lastly lets test out your knowledge

So how much do you really know about HPV?

Test out your knowledge at the website below:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/cervical-cancer-quiz.html

References

Guidry, J., Vraga, E. K., Laestadius, L. I., Miller, C. A., Occa, A., Nan, X., Ming, H. M., Qin, Y., Fuemmeler, B. F., & Carlyle, K. E. (2020). HPV Vaccine Searches on Pinterest: Before and After Pinterest’s Actions to Moderate Content. American journal of public health, 110(S3), S305–S311. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305827

Henry, N. J. E., McMichael, M., Johnson, J., DiStasi, A., Ball, B. S., Holman, H. C., Elkins, C. B., … Assessment Technologies Institute. (2016). RN adult medical surgical nursing: Review module.

Hockenberry, M. J., Wilson, D., & Wong, D. L. (2013). Wong’s essentials of pediatric nursing. Place of publication not identified: Mosby.

Holder, N., Ahmed, N., & Cabral, M. D. (2019). Human papillomavirus infection in adolescents. Pediatric Medicine, 2, 46-46. doi:10.21037/pm.2019.08.01

Pap and HPV tests. (2019, January 31). Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pap-hpv-tests

Ricci, S. S. (2017). Study guide for essentials of maternity, newborn, and women’s health nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Sheaves, C. G. (2016). Influence of education strategies on young women’s knowledge and attitudes about the HPV vaccine. Women’s Healthcare: A Clinical Journal for NPs, 4(4), 38–45