Dr. Kylie Fuller Speaks to KNX About the Rise in HPV Cases

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open this month showed an increase in #cervicalcancer diagnoses in young women in their 30s and 40s.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and is almost always caused by a long-lasting infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly all people who are sexually active will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives, however, when an infection lasts for years, it can develop into cervical cancer.

How can you protect yourself? The HPV vaccine, which is administered in a series, is more than 90% effective.

Kylie Fuller, MD, OB/GYN, spoke with KNX Radio about the expanded use of the HPV vaccine, which was extended in 2018 from covering ages 9–26 to now covering individuals aged 27–45. Many people may not be aware that they are still eligible to receive the vaccine.

“Whenever I see a patient who, maybe, the vaccine came out and they were 20, they haven’t gotten it. So, it’s really important to still do a [consultation], even if you have already become sexually active,” says Dr. Fuller. “It is important to get the vaccination.”

Talk to your doctor about getting the HPV vaccine if you have not yet received the series. We also urge you to get screened for cervical cancer – women ages 21-29 should be screened every three years, and women ages 30-65 every five years.