Human Papilloma Virus — better known as HPV or HpV, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and it isn’t as harmless as you’d think. According to the National Cancer Institute of the US, HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.  

Sexually transmitted HPV types fall into two groups, low risk and high risk.

1. Low-risk HPVs mostly cause no disease. However, a few low-risk HPV types can cause warts on or around the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat.
2. High-risk HPVs can cause several types of cancer. There are about 14 high-risk HPV types. Two of these, HPV16 and HPV18, are responsible for most HPV-related cancers.

Myths surrounding HpV, cancer and who is at risk:

1. HPV infection can’t happen to me: No, that’s a myth. It is fairly common and nearly all sexually active people (as per the US site) are infected with HPV within months to a few years of becoming sexually active. 50 per cent of these are with a high-risk HPV type.
2. Can’t happen to boys and men as they have no cervix: Wrong, HPV can infect both males and females and after being infected with HPV, anyone can develop HPV-caused cancers.
3. It is just an STI (sexually transmitted infection), it can’t cause cancer: Your immune system usually controls HPV infections, and if you are properly vaccinated against HpV, then it won’t cause cancer.
4. High-risk HPV infections that persist can cause cancer: Sometimes HPV infections are not successfully controlled by your immune system. When a high-risk HPV infection persists for many years, it can lead to cell changes that, if untreated, may get worse over time and become cancer.
5. How can a jab prevent cancer? HPV vaccines can prevent infection with disease-causing HPV types, preventing many HPV-related cancers and cases of genital warts.

How important is the HPV vaccine in the fight against cancer?

We asked Dr Bhuvan Chugh who is Consultant – Medical Oncology at the renowned Max Hospital in Gurugram. Here’s what he told us, busting quite a few myths surrounding the topic of Cervical cancer, throat cancer, penis cancer, and anal cancer. 

1. Times Now: How important is it to vaccinate children aged 13+ against HPV as they do in the West?
   
   Dr Bhuvan Chugh: It is important to start vaccinating children 13+ years as new HPV infections can be prevented by the vaccine. But if you have already been exposed to HPV, its beneficial role diminishes…therefore, the earlier the vaccination, the better it is.
2. Times Now: Do boys need to be vaccinated as well? Why? 
   
   Dr Bhuvan Chugh: Boys need to be vaccinated as cancers of the penis, anal system and a few throat cancers are caused by HPV.
3. Times Now: Are there any side effects to the HPV vaccine that scare people?
   
   Dr Bhuvan Chugh: No side effects that can scare you… same as any other injection. Fainting episodes may occur rarely. 
4. Times Now: Why do people treat HPV vaccine as optional or not important?
   
   Dr Bhuvan Chugh: People treat HPV vaccine optional due to less public awareness about it and carcinomas caused by HPV if we compare to other cancers like the breast.
5. Times Now: What is the right age or stage in the life of a sexually active human to have the HPV vaccine? 
   
   Dr Bhuvan Chugh: The right age is 11-15 years. Earlier the better. Anyone can have it around at age of 25 years too. In that case, new infections can be prevented. 
6. Times Now: Is there a right age or can anyone have it?
   
   Dr Bhuvan Chugh: Vaccination is generally not recommended after 25 years of age as vaccines provide fewer benefits considering most people might have been exposed to HPV infection. Anyone can have it though, (even at  40-45 years of age, for example) if they wish to.

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