Royal Pharmacy in Pietermaritzburg prioritises Reproductive Health

Royal Pharmacy in Pietermaritzburg is collaborating with Mar-eh Aesthetics this #february to highlight Reproductive Health Month. Dr Yvonne shares her expertise on the Cervical cancer vaccine: Yay or nay??  

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD)

Spread is through sexual intercourse, as well as genital skin-to-skin contact. 

Although most HPV infections are asymptomatic, and the infection is cleared naturally by the immune system. 

There are some forms of the virus that can cause warts, genital warts and certain cancers.  

HPV is responsible for almost all cervical cancers and can lead to cancers involving the vulva, vagina, throat, anus and penis as well.  

Prevention:  

There are currently two HPV vaccines on the market: 

1. Gardasil immunises patients against HPV 16 and 18, the cancer-forming viruses, and 6 and 11, which cause genital warts. 
2. Cervarix immunises patients against HPV 16 and 18 and has some cross-protection of some other high-risk HP viruses that cause cancer."

It is therefore ideally given to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 12 (before sexual debut)  

The general recommendation is up to the age of 26 for women. Men, the upper age limit is 21.