What else can I do to protect her from HPV & cancer of the cervix?
The link between Pap tests and HPV
Even after your daughter is vaccinated against HPV, regular Pap testing to screen for cervical cancer remains very important.
SOGC recommends that girls have their first Pap test within three years of becoming sexually active, or by age 21. A woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer rises in a dramatic way if she does not have regular Pap tests. Thanks to these screening tests, the number of cases of cervical cancer in Canada has been cut in half during the past 30 years, and the number of women who have died has fallen by about 60%.
If I am worried about HPV, is there a test my daughter can have?
HPV testing is not really an option, for good reason. A DNA test for HPV can tell if a woman has HPV, but it cannot tell what kind of HPV it is. Is it the kind that will just go away or the kind that could lead to warts, sores or even cancer? We know that if a woman is infected with one type of HPV, she could benefit from the broader protection that comes from having the HPV vaccination.
The only HPV DNA test currently approved by Health Canada is one that is used when a Pap test shows there are abnormal cells in a woman’s cervix. The test then helps doctors decide on the best treatment for these abnormal cells.
Right now, this kind of HPV test is not available in all parts of Canada.
