Vaccine sees drop in cervical cancer signs
● Significant reduction in abnormal screening tests 20 years ahead of plans
The number of young Scottish women showing early signs of potential cervical cancer has almost halved since the introduction of a school vaccination programme.
The research by the University of Aberdeen suggests the vaccine against human papilloma virus (HPV) has seen a significant reduction in abnormal cervical screening tests 20 years earlier than anticipated.
The study analysed the number of women in Scotland involved in the catch-up programme, aged 20 or 21, who were referred to colposcopy – where the cervix is examined if abnormal cells were found in a smear test.
It found that 1,294 women were referred for a colposcopy in 2008-9 due to an abnormal screening smear, against 758 women in 2013-14 – a reduction of 41 per cent. The study analysed trends in the numbers of Scottish women referred from the cervical screening programme for a colposcopy examination. The colposcopy is a test used to find pre-cancerous cells on the cervix and although it is an effective intervention for cancer prevention, negative effects can include pain, infection and in some cases after further treatment, women may be at higher risk of pre-term labour in future pregnancies.
Results of this study showed that the group who had been offered the vaccine showed a significant reduction in not only colposcopy, but also medical interventions and treatment compared to those who had not been offered the vaccine.
The UK government introduced the school-based vaccination programme in 2008 for 12- and 13-year-old girls to protect from HPV virus and specifically against HPV 16 and 18, which cause at least 70 per cent of cervical cancers. The government also offered a three-year catch-up programme for girls up to 18.
Uptake of the vaccine in Scotland is currently among the highest in the world, with around 90 per cent of girls opting to receive it.
Professor Maggie Cruickshank, from the School of Medicine and Medical Science and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen, who led the study, said: “We thought it might take 20 years to see the benefits of HPV vaccination as it would take time to reduce levels of HPV infection – the virus that causes abnormal cells to develop.
“But this data shows that we’re already seeing a significant reduction in colposcopy and subsequent treatment for pre-cancer. This is great news for women as this means they can avoid the short-term negative effects of colposcopy such as pain and bleeding, but also longer term, there are concerns that some women treated for pre-cancer changes can have an increased risk of pre-term labour.”
Aileen Campbell, minister for public health, said: “This is welcome news and demonstrates the significant benefits of the HPV vaccination programme in Scotland.
“As the research has found, the HPV vaccine is extremely effective in reducing the incidence of the types of HPV which are known to cause cervical cancer, so it’s important that girls take up the offer of HPV vaccination.”