Prevention of gynecological tumors

Prevention of gynecological tumors takes two forms: primary for the prevention of cancer and secondary in the form of gynecological screening for early diagnosis.

Primary prevention
It is a vaccination against oncogenic strains of HPV. Vaccination is paid in the Czech Republic for boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 14 with the Cervarix vaccine (types 16, 18), which protects against the most common and most risky types of HPV for the development of cancers. Gardasil vaccination (types 16, 18, 6, 11) also includes types that cause condylomata accuminata. Gardasil 9 (types 16, 18, 6, 11, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) provides extensive protection, which also includes 5 other high-risk types for the development of cervical, vulvar, anal and vaginal cancers.

Vaccination is possible later, but for full payment by the patient. It is recommended for the detection of precancerous lesions with typing of one of the malignant HPV types, or it is recommended for women after conization.

Secondary prevention
There are two screening programs in the Czech Republic, one focusing on precancerous disease and invasive tumors of the lower genital tract and the other on breast tumors.

Screening of gynecological tumors
The basic screening method (cervical cancer), to which every woman from the age of 15 is entitled. It is performed once a year, as part of a preventive inspection. In order to increase detection, it is appropriate to supplement the HPV test (especially in women over 30 years of age). The examination also includes a clinical examination of the breast, examination of the skin and regional lymph nodes, examination in mirrors with colposcopy and cytology (not in virgines), palpation bimanual examination, breast self-examination training, instructions. For cytology screening to be important, it is necessary to have the largest percentage of the population aged 25-65.

HPV typing is gaining ground around the world as a routine screening method for women over 30. In the Czech Republic, it is paid for screening in women at the age of 35 and 45, and due to its financial demands, it remains a basic cytology test.

Mammographic screening
A comprehensive breast cancer screening has been carried out since 2002. Women from the age of 45 are entitled to a mammogram every two years.

Related articles

 * Precancerous conditions in gynecology
 * Malignant tumors in gynecology
 * Cervical tumors