HPV vaccination is the most important and effective preventive measure against HPV infections. HPV vaccination against the 9 major virus types HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 (nine-way HPV vaccine) is available for girls and boys between 9 and 14 years of age. The “Standing Commission on Vaccination” (STIKO) recommends that girls and boys should be vaccinated between the ages of nine and 15, ideally before their first sexual intercourse (between the ages of 12 and 17), in order to avoid infection with the pathogens.
Note: Because HPV vaccination does not include all HPV subtypes classified as oncogenic, screening is mandatory (required) even for vaccinated individuals. Furthermore, to prevent human papillomavirus, care must be taken to reduce risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Consumption of stimulants
- Tobacco (smoking)
- Drug use
- Cannabis (hashish and marijuana)
- Sexual transmission
- Promiscuity (sexual contact with relatively frequently changing different partners).
- Prostitution
- Men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Sexual contacts in the vacation country
- Unprotected coitus
- Sexual practices with high risk of mucosal injury (e.g., unprotected anal intercourse).
Medication
- Immunosuppressants – drugs that suppress the immune system.
- Combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC; contraceptives) likely lead to easier transmission (transmission) and longer persistence (persistence) of HPV
Other risk factors
- Multiparity – birth of many children
Prevention factors
- Regular use of condoms. These reduce the probability of infection with HPV by 30-60%. A complete protection by condoms against HPV infection is therefore not possible, because these do not shield all skin areas in the genital area, which can be infested.
Note: elective caesarean section cannot prevent HPV infection of the child!
