WHAT IS HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer. The others are harmless or cause conditions such as genital warts. HPV is the underlying cause for cervical cancer, a sexually transmitted and largely symptomless infection. Many young women contract HPV, but the infection may remain stable for a long time. In some cases, HPV leads to abnormal cell changes that can progress to cancer, but only over many years. This cancer is most common among women 35 years and older around the world.

HOW DO YOU GET HPV?
HPV is transmitted through intimate sexual contact including, but not limited to, sexual intercourse.

IS HPV COMMON?
Infection by HPV is common and at least half of all sexually active women are infected by a strain of genital HPV in their lifetimes. In India it is the most common form of cancer in women. Known to affect a large number of women in rural areas, it is becoming rampant in metros too, since occurrences of unprotected sex are high. In Mumbai, it is the most common form of cancer after breast cancer.

HOW CAN HPV LEAD TO CERVICAL CANCER?
Two particular strains of HPV, types 16 and 18, cause a majority of all cervical cancers in the world. Although HPV infection is usually symptom free, it can damage the lining of the cervix. Persistent infection can cause abnormalities of the cervix, which, if left undetected and untreated, can cause cervical cancer.

AT WHAT AGE DO WOMEN GET CERVICAL CANCER?
Cervical cancer is very rare for women aged under 25. Most women get cervical cancer in their 30s, or when they're older. But with recurring occurrences of unprotected sex with city women and teenagers, local gynaecs are calling the 18-30 age group as a high risk one. Being sexually active with multiple partners too increases their risk of contracting cervical cancer.

WHAT IS THE HPV VACCINATION?
The HPV vaccine protects against two strains of the virus (types 16 and 18) which cause over 70 per cent of cervical cancers. It is estimated to save the lives of hundreds of women each year. Although not available in India as yet, the vaccine is well on its way and will be available by the end of this year, doctors say. Major multinational pharma companies are in talks with experts and gynaecs to execute the same. Vaccination programmes in the west are common and compulsary. Trials of the HPV vaccine show that protection lasts for at least six years, but it is expected to be much longer lasting.

THE PAP SMEAR TEST AND TREATMENT
This test is the simplest and cheapest way to detect cervical cancer. It involves inserting a specialised brush or a cotton swab into the cervix and sending it for narco-analysis. If the patient is a victim of cervical cancer, the slide is likely to pick up the discarded cells and indicate a positive result thereafter. Ideally, the test is supposed to be carried out on all sexually active women at least once a year. But since this isn't being enforced in India, most gynaecologists and radiologists insist on getting the PAP SMEAR test or the HPV test done before any medical procedure. Though western countries have achieved success in early detection of cervical cancer with the 'Pap smear' test, India on the other hand has not reached majority of the women in need, mostly because of high costs involved and a lack of trained experts, especially in the rural areas.

THE GOOD NEWS
A positive way to look at this situation is that this type of cancer is one of the slowest to spread through the body and one of the quickest to be detected. If you detect it at an early stage, you can almost completely recover with treatment. Now, with advanced surgery, complete removal of the affected cells is also possible.

THE FACTS
• By July 2011 over 2 million girls will have been given the HPV vaccine

• This routine vaccine protects against two strains of the HPV virus — which cause over 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer

• Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer amongst women worldwide. Around 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed

• The vaccine, given as a course of three doses over around six months, is estimated to save lives of hundreds of women each year.