1. Is any check-up required before vaccination?

Check-up serves the purpose of screening/early detection of infection and cell changes. Hence it is not a “must” step before vaccination. However, an initial check-up for someone who had been sexually active can provide reassurance that there is no pre-exiting abnormality or that treatment can be implemented at an early stage. For females, a pap smear test is the most common and affordable way for checking the normality of cervical cells whilst the latest HPV DNA screening technique will make it more conclusive in detecting various “risk types” in case an abnormal cervical cell is found.

2. Can I still get vaccinated if I have already had sex or been infected by HPV?
Yes. Many people have a misconception about the HPV vaccine. HPV can be a recurring infection. People may catch one type and clear it with their immune system but they can catch the same type or a different type in the future. The vaccination protects against future infections and therefore it is still recommended for those who are infected as it will help to protect against other genotypes of infection as well as reduce the chance of developing the end point diseases such as genital warts, cervical and rectal cancer.

3. How long will the protection last after having vaccination and how effective is it?

Research studies show that protection will last for at least 10 years and reduce the risk of cervical cancer by 70% and genital warts by 90%.

4. Why do males also need HPV vaccination?
Male are not at risk of cervical cancer but have a chance of getting genital warts and other genital diseases, such as penile and anal cancer. Males who are HPV carriers can transmit the virus to their partners (male/female). The carrier can also pass the virus onto the next generation at birth and through normal skin contact. Some countries such as Australia, Canada, and some States in the US, have started national or state-wide vaccination programs for boys to be vaccinated against HPV.

5. Will I still be infected by HPV even if I do not have any sexual contact?
Yes. HPV is a common virus that can be found on the skin and it can be spread through skin contact or even environmental contact.

For enquiries, please contact
Tel: (852) 3162 0092
Email: hpv@neohealth.com.hk