Protective vaccination with the Silgard/Cervarix HPV vaccine administered in three consecutive doses at 0-1-6 months. Single dose

HPV vaccination as part of the prevention of human papillomavirus infections.

In most cases, cervical cancer develops as a sequence of events:

• acute infection with a highly oncogenic HPV virus,
• survival of the virus in the cells of the cervical epithelium (so-called persistent infection)
• formation of precancerous cells (dysplasia and neoplasia)
• progression of changes and development of cancer cells that are not subject to immune control and exhibit clinical malignancy.

Infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) transmitted through sexual contact is one of the most important factors responsible for the development of precancerous lesions in the cervix, followed by invasive cancer of this organ. HPV is very common and easily transmitted. Studies estimate that over 80% of women have been infected with this virus at least once in their lives. The peak incidence of infection occurs in the first few years after the onset of sexual activity. Cervical cancer, which is still the second most common cancer in women in Poland, is an extremely insidious disease, causing no discomfort or symptoms for many years. Early detection is only possible through preventive cytological tests and colposcopic examinations, followed by biopsy sampling if abnormalities are detected.

Preventive vaccination against oncogenic types of HPV provides effective protection against infection and the development of related complications in the form of persistent infection, dysplasia and cervical cancer. However, it should be emphasised that the vaccines available on the market do not treat existing infections and lesions. Vaccination should therefore be carried out before exposure to a possible viral infection. However, there are no diagnostic methods that can clearly determine which patients have been exposed and which are particularly susceptible to infection with this virus.