Testing, testing: HPV Vaccine for Positive Women

You may have heard about the relatively new “cervical cancer vaccine” to protect against four strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). One of the most common sexually transmitted infections, HPV will infect 3 out of 4 sexually active women at some point in their life, and can lead to cervical cancer if it’s not treated. Studies of the vaccine have demonstrated a benefit for girls and women with healthy immune systems, but no study has tested it on immune-compromised women. Dr Deborah Money of Oak Tree Clinic is leading research to change that, hoping to benefit women in internationally.

 Women with HIV tend to experience more severe HPV infection than women who don’t and it can be more difficult to treat. The “gold standard” for tracking cervical health and possible HPV infections is the Pap test. In Canada Pap tests are a standard of care, but this isn’t the case the world over. Even if women has access to care, treatment for HPV infections are varied, and can be painfully invasive.

Sixteen sites across Canada are enrolling girls and women age 9 and over who are living with HIV to be part of this ground-breaking study. Being vaccinated against HPV wouldn’t remove the need for regular Pap tests, as the vaccine protects against only four of the many strains that can be transmitted sexually. But it could cut down on the rates of infection with the two types that contribute to cervical cancer and the types that cause genital warts, both major factors for potentially invasive procedures. If the results of the study demonstrate a benefit, the impact could be felt internationally. Offering the vaccine in regions where women don’t have access to regular Pap tests and follow up care could dramatically reduce cervical cancer rates.

If you’re interested in learning more about the study, you can contact Oak Tree’s Evelyn Maan.  

- Janet

This was posted on Friday, January 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 am and is filed under Education & Resources, HIV Treatment, News . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.

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