Over time, HPV infection may cause abnormal changes in the squamous cells that line the vagina. These may be precancerous, increasing a woman’s risk of developing a form of vaginal cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
These precancerous changes are called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, or dysplasia. Sometimes they go away, as cells revert back to normal after the body has cleared the virus. Cells infected with HPV can take years, even decades, to develop into cancer.
There is no cure for HPV infection, but it can be prevented with vaccination. Doctors recommend HPV vaccination for women and girls before they are sexually active. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that the three-dose vaccine be given to girls at age 11 or 12, although it may be given to those as young as age 9. Vaccination is also recommended for girls and women ages 13 to 26 who have not been vaccinated or have not received all three scheduled doses. The vaccine is not recommended for women older than age 26, because it has not yet been well studied in this age group.
The Advisory Committee recommends vaccination for boys age 11 or 12 and in boys or young men 13 to 21 years old who were not previously vaccinated. The vaccine is also available for men up to age 26 who are at an increased risk of infection, because they have sex with men or have a weakened immune system.
Vaccination helps to prevent the spread of HPV to sexual partners and prevents vaginal cancer and other HPV-related cancers.
Researchers are investigating whether the vaccine prevents oropharyngeal cancer, which is cancer that develops on the back of the tongue, the tonsils, the soft palate or roof of the mouth, and the sides and back wall of the throat.
Practicing safer sex by using condoms or other barrier methods during vaginal, oral, and anal sex can help to reduce the risk of HPV infection. However, these methods do not eliminate the risk of cancer.
Safer sex can also reduce the risk of infection with other sexually transmitted diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infection also increases vaginal cancer risk.
Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of developing vaginal cancer, as well as many other types of cancer. Perlmutter Cancer Center’s Tobacco Cessation Programs can help women quit, reducing their cancer risk.
Vaginal Cancer TypesIf your doctor finds precancerous changes in cells of the vagina, he or she can recommend effective treatment options that help reduce the chance of cancer developing.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus with more than 200 different kinds or types. More than 30 of the types can be passed from one person to another through close skin-to-skin contact during sex. Almost all cervical cancers, and some vaginal, vulvar, and other cancers, are caused by HPV.
The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
HPV vaccination is recommended for preteens age 11 to 12 years, but can be given starting at age 9.
HPV vaccine also is recommended for everyone through age 26 years, if they are not vaccinated already.
HPV vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. However, some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit, as more people have already been exposed to HPV.
If vaccination is started before age 15, a two-dose schedule is recommended, with the doses given 6 to 12 months apart. For people who start the series after their 15th birthday, the vaccine is given in a series of three shots.
HPV vaccination prevents new HPV infections, but does not treat existing infections or diseases. This is why the HPV vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV. You should get screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if you received an HPV vaccine.
A woman’s vagina -- their birth canal -- is a channel that goes from the opening of their uterus to the outside of their body. Many kinds of cancer can spread to the vagina from somewhere else, but cancer that starts here is rare. There are about 6,000 new cases in the U.S. each year.
Squamous cell carcinoma. This is by far the more common. It happens when cancer forms in the flat, thin cells that line your vagina. This type spreads slowly and tends to stay close to where it starts, but it can move into other places like your liver, lungs, or bones. Older women are most likely to get this form. Nearly half of all new cases are in women ages 60 and up.
Adenocarcinoma. This type starts in glandular cells in the lining of your vagina, which make mucus and other fluids. It’s more likely to spread to other areas, including your lungs and the lymph nodes (small organs that filter out harmful things in your body) in your groin.
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