Facts About HPV and Cervical Cancer in Women: Why Its Important to Be Tested for HPV

Approximately 200,000 women around the world were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2002. Worldwide, over 270,000 females die of cervical cancer each year, with up to 80% of them from contact with HPV (Human Papillomavirus) in their lifetime. Meanwhile, cervical cancer has been regarded as the second most prevalent cancer in women, and is always caused by the persistent infection of the cervix with HPV virus from vaginal, anal and oral sex with a partner who already has HPV.

Despite cervical cancer being one of the most easily prevented cancers, precautionary steps are not being taken. I suggest to readers to have annual Pap smear tests to detect any cervical cell growths or abnormalities. Even though Pap test has been used over decades to screen for HPV, the test is not always reliable. The accuracy of the sample is heavily dependent on the test method, how the sample is collected, the number of test results obtained from different labs and how the results are interpreted. Therefore, this Pap test does not specifically detect the presence of HPV types that cause cervical cancer. In this case, HPV DNA testing is seen to be the most effective method used to improve the accuracy of cancer screening. To determine whether there is any future risk of developing cervical cancer, the combination of both HPV and Pap test is the right choice in determining any cervical abnormalities.

When a sample is taken for the Pap test, both DNA or HPV test can be performed at the same time. Since the digene HPV test is the only US FDA-approved test it has been extensively validated worldwide besides accurately identifying cervical abnormalities as compared to Pap test. Furthermore, the digene HPV test uses advanced molecular technology and thereby significantly detecting HPV types which cause almost all types of cervical cancers. In the latest clinically proven experimentations, the digene HPV was documented to accurately detect 13 high-risk HPV types that were culprits for nearly 100 percent of cervical cancers. Only when it’s combined with the Pap test, can it significantly detect cervical disease at the possible earliest stage. Undoubtedly, it’s the best way to accurately detect the presence of HPV virus.

Women aged 30 and above are encouraged to have the Pap test along with the HPV test, since this age group has a potentially high risk of developing cervical cancer. In contrast to that women below 30 do not be necessarily need routine HPV testing. This is because the infections in younger females will usually be not active for a longer period.

Medical experts, however, emphasized that, females regardless of age, are recommended to have an HPV test if their Pap results are unclear. In a nutshell, if your Pap test is normal, you’re still at high risk of developing cervical cancer. The reason is that HPV infections can persist for months and even for years to cause problems in your coming life. Doctors advise to have Pap tests along with an HPV test on a regular basis so that cervical cancer can effectively be prevented.

In regards to new HPV vaccines, they don’t give full protection against many dangerous sub-types of cancers, since only two cancer-causing types of HPV are known to be prevented via vaccines. That’s why cancer screening still plays a crucial role in a woman’s health program. Moreover, up to now, there is no concrete evidence that shows vaccines protects women who are already infected with HPV. This is to say that vaccines are only effective if given before the infections of HPV. It’s certainly not a good measure to cure existing HPV infections or after any exposure to HPV.