This week, in The True of the False Junior, we answer students’ questions about the papillomavirus, the vaccination of which will be generalized to 5th grade students at the start of the next school year.
Is it true that HPV infection would not show any symptoms? How do you know you’ve caught this infection? Is it true that HPV can cause cervical cancer? Will vaccination against the papillomavirus be compulsory at the start of the next school year? The students of the André-Derain college, in Chambourcy (Yvelines), have questions about the papillomavirus and doctor Olivier Aynaud, andrologist, gynecologist and specialist in the treatment of papillomavirus, answers them.
No particular symptoms
The human papillomavirus, also called HPV, is a virus that is transmitted very easily, almost exclusively by sexual contact with or without penetration. Both men and women can be exposed to its infection. It lives in the cells of the skin and mucous membrane. Papillomavirus is considered the most common sexually transmitted infection. In France, it is estimated that approximately 80% of sexually active men and women come into contact with a papillomavirus one or more times during their lifetime.
AT About this virus, Ashley wonders if it’s true”that the papillomavirus infection would not show any particular symptoms“. “It’s true, replies Doctor Aynaud, papillomaviruses develop without any symptoms, without any clinical signs, there is no pain and there is no discomfort.” However, “at some point, if the lesion develops, it can create, on the external level of the genitals, small growths like warts and you can then feel them with your fingers while washing“specifies the specialist. On the other hand”at the level of the cervix, there are no symptoms when the lesion develops” concludes Doctor Aynaud.
The smear, the best way to detect lesions
Ashley wonders”how do you know you have this infection“. Doctor Aynaud explains that we can realize this first thanks to the possible growths which can appear on the external level of the genital organs. But the other way, explains Doctor Aynaud “it is to do a smear test for the cervix, to detect lesions of the cervix.“This is a cervical smear which will identify cells that are growing abnormally on the cervix. The specialist specifies that there is “no blood test that can detect this HPV infection.“Finally, you should know that 99% of cervical cancers are caused by infection with papillomavirus.
A widespread, but not compulsory, vaccination campaign
Nina asks if the papillomavirus vaccination”will be compulsory next school year“. Vaccination will be well generalized for volunteer students from the 5th class for the next school year, on the other hand, explains Doctor Aynaud, “it will not be mandatory. The specialist recalls that “we are the country with the lowest rate of vaccination of young people for the papillomavirus, around 33% vaccination, when all European countries are at 80%.“But according to him, “From the moment we try to allow young people to become aware of this infection and tell them to talk about it with their parents in order to be able to get vaccinated, it is an important step for health education on this point.“