The women were randomized into two groups and either received the HPV vaccine or a placebo.
Afterward, the participants were diagnosed with HPV-related diseases of the vagina or vulva, or they underwent cervical surgery. The press release noted that while more than 17,000 women took part in the clinical trials, this study only looked at the women who developed HPV-related disease.
The researchers found that women who had received the HPV vaccine had a reduced risk of 46.2 percent of developing further HPV-related disease. They also found a reduced risk of 64.9 percent of additional high grade cervical disease in women who received the vaccine.
For women who were treated for vulvar or vaginal disease, the risk of developing future HPV-related disease was 35.2 percent lower for those who received the vaccine. While the vaccine does not reduce disease progression, the results for this study suggested that the vaccine may reduce the risk of future HPV-related diseases.
Further research is needed, such as long-term surveillance of women who received the vaccination.
References
National Cancer Institute. HPV and Cancer. Web. 11 April 2012
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/HPV
National Cancer Institute. Cervical Cancer Home Page. Web. 11 April 2012
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/cervical
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV Infection – Fact Sheet. Web. 11 April 2012
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm
EurekAlert. Cervical Disease Sufferers Could Benefit from HPV Vaccine. Web. 11 April 2012
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/bmj-cds032612.php
HealthDay. HPV Vaccine May Help Women with Cervical Conditions. Web. 11 April 2012
http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=663152
Reviewed April 11, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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