36-year-old Minh Khue from Hanoi believes a healthy lifestyle and monogamy are sufficient protection against HPV. He and his family prioritize exercise and nutritious meals to boost their overall health, dismissing information about HPV and preventative measures as excessive worry.
In contrast, 43-year-old Minh Ha, also from Hanoi, undergoes annual health checkups and consults with specialists about cervical cancer and other gynecological diseases. Driven by a "prevention is better than cure" mindset, she also enrolled her children in early education programs focused on personal safety and sexual health.
"I'm concerned about HPV," Ha says, adding that she fears the virus's potential link to cancer and will take multiple preventative measures.
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Women undergo regular health checkups and cervical cancer screenings for early detection. Illustration: Vecteezy |
Doctor Tran Thi Nhat Thien Trang, former Head of the Outpatient Department at Tu Du Hospital, has observed a range of parental attitudes towards HPV prevention. Some families downplay the importance of preventative measures, believing treatment is sufficient if the disease occurs. Others exhibit excessive fear, becoming distressed even with a positive HPV test result but no signs of the disease.
Doctor Trang emphasizes the importance of understanding HPV to adopt appropriate preventative measures. Human papillomavirus (HPV) encompasses over 200 identified types. Low-risk types cause benign conditions like skin warts and genital warts. High-risk types, if persistent, can lead to precancerous lesions and eventually cancer in the anogenital area. Types 16 and 18 are notably found in 70% of invasive cervical cancers.
HPV typically requires a considerable period, averaging 10-20 years from initial persistent infection, to cause cellular changes in the cervix that develop into precancerous lesions. However, pinpointing the exact time of infection is challenging. Therefore, Doctor Trang stresses the crucial role of screening and close monitoring tailored to individual cases.
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Illustration of an HPV typing test tube. Image: Vecteezy |
Families are advised to consider early HPV prevention for their children, ideally before any exposure to the virus. This pre-sexual activity period offers the highest preventative efficacy.
For other age groups, sexually active women aged 21-65 should undergo regular cervical cancer screenings as advised by healthcare professionals. Additionally, everyone should adopt a healthy lifestyle: avoid smoking, engage in regular physical activity, maintain a balanced diet, and practice safe sex. HPV vaccination is available at healthcare facilities. Some studies suggest that circumcision may reduce the risk of HPV transmission in men.
Van Ha
*Names have been changed.
Individual action is crucial for raising awareness about prevention within the community "For a Vietnam free from the burden of HPV". Consult with a healthcare professional and learn more about HPV at hpv.vn.
