HPV and Cervical Cancer This campaign has been produced by The Royal Society of Health with funding from Sanofi Pasteur MSD. Sanofi Pasteur MSD has reviewed this article/item for accuracy. Editorial control remains with The Royal Society of Health. Correct at time of print July 2008. HPV and Cervical Cancer Lesson Plan Support Benefits and Risks of Health and Lifestyle Choices

Learning Objectives Know that cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and that it is other types of this virus that cause genital warts. Know that most cases of cervical cancer are preventable through a 3 dose vaccination – likely to be delivered to girls in their school or via a GP. Be aware that practising safer sex is essential in the prevention of the spread of STIs.

True, False, Depends You always know you are carrying an STI… There is no vaccine against cancer… TRUE FALSE DEPENDS Cancer is hereditary… TRUE FALSE DEPENDS Emergency contraception, “often called the morning after pill”, can only be taken the morning after sexual intercourse… TRUE FALSE DEPENDS

True, False, Depends – The Answers You always know you are carrying an STI… FALSE – You will not always know you are carrying HPV the virus that causes cervical cancer and genital warts. You may not know that you are carrying chlamydia. There is no vaccine against cancer… FALSE - There are now vaccines that protect girls against certain types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer.

True, False, Depends – The Answers Cancer is Hereditary… It DEPENDS on the type of cancer. Some are. Cervical cancer is not hereditary and is caused by a common virus. Many cancers are caused by other factors, for example over exposure to the sun or smoking – and cervical cancer is most likely to occur in women who smoke. Emergency contraception, often called ‘the morning after pill’, can only be taken the morning after sexual intercourse… FALSE - It is effective for up to 72 hours after sex.

Quiz Q. How common is the human papillomavirus? Very common. It affects 75-80% of people at some point in their life. Q. Why don’t most women get cervical cancer? Because in most cases (90%) the body’s own defence, the immune system, eliminates the HPV. Q. Why is it important for women to have cervical smear tests? A. Smear tests can detect very early changes in cells that line the cervix which can then be easily treated before cancer develops.

Q. How do you know you are carrying the human papillomavirus? A. You probably don’t, it is “silent”. Most people who carry it show no symptoms. Q. How can you get human papillomavirus? By skin-to-skin genital contact, not necessarily sexual intercourse Q. One way of protecting yourself from HPV is to abstain from sexual activity. What must you do if you want to practise ‘safe sex’? Always use a condom. The condom protects from many sexually transmitted infections BUT they will not give complete protection against HPV which can still be spread by intimate sexual contact.

Q. Is the UK the first country to introduce vaccinations against HPV? A. No. Hundreds of thousands of young women have already had their vaccinations. All the evidence shows that the vaccines are very safe. Q. What are the other ways to protect against cervical cancer? A. After the age of 20 in Scotland and Wales (25 in England and Northern Ireland) women are invited to have regular cervical screening/smear tests; these are very important for women’s health.

HPV HPV is very common Contagious and transmitted through No symptoms / silent virus Contagious and transmitted through skin to skin genital contact Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV and other types can cause genital warts HPV HPV is very common

Vaccines Vaccines are given Vaccines help to people by protect you against many diseases Vaccines are given to people by doctors, nurses or health administrators Vaccines Some vaccines are injected, like the HPV vaccine. Some can be taken by mouth like the polio vaccine Vaccines contain antibodies that fight against specific diseases

There are four ways to protect yourself from contracting HPV and the possibility of getting cervical cancer Help to Prevent Always use a condom and don’t smoke Help to Prevent Abstaining from Sex Detect Having regular smear tests when you are old enough Help to Prevent Having the HPV Vaccine

Other ways to protect yourself from contracting HPV and other STIs Postpone starting sexual relationships Have fewer partners

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