A study has found benefits of HPV vaccination that extend beyond cancer prevention to reduced risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancy.
The Swedish analysis showed having a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine before pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of major pregnancy complications including preterm birth.
Reporting the findings in the BMJ, the researchers said the greatest reduction in risk was found in women vaccinated at an earlier age.
It follows growing evidence indicating that HPV infection, and the methods used to treat cervical lesions caused by HPV, are linked to an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, the researchers said.
They looked at data from 624,713 singleton, first-time births among women aged 16-35 years in Sweden between 2006 and 2023, of whom 15% had received the quadrivalent HPV vaccination before pregnancy.
Women with at least one adverse pregnancy outcome, including birth before 37 weeks, very preterm birth between 28 to 31 weeks, preterm and/or pre-labour rupture of membranes, delivering a small or severely small baby, stillbirth, or newborn death, were each matched with 10 controls.
After accounting for cigarette use, body mass index at first antenatal visit, maternal diagnoses and assisted reproduction, and various socio-economic factors, they found quadrivalent HPV vaccination was associated with lower odds of all adverse pregnancy outcomes looked at, compared with no vaccination.
The association with preterm and very preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, and delivering a severely small baby were statistically significant, they said.
And reduced risk was generally more pronounced among women vaccinated before age 17, the researchers said.
‘Together with previous research showing the safety of human papillomavirus vaccination during pregnancy, our results suggest that human papillomavirus vaccination is not only safe with respect to pregnancy outcomes but may also confer additional benefits by reducing the risk of adverse events.
‘Collectively, this evidence supports the global strategy for human papillomavirus vaccination and its continued implementation in routine immunisation programmes,’ they added.
A UK study published in June found women who received an HPV vaccine as young teenagers have virtually zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30.
Their analysis reported in The Lancet also found that the HPV vaccine has prevented 200 deaths from cervical cancer in England so far.
The number of lives saved will grow as vaccinated generations grow older, and more people receive the vaccination, the team from Queen Mary University of London said.
Continue with clinical updates and expert-led education before the year ends in person at Pulse LIVE in Belfast, Liverpool, or virtually this October. Whether you prefer face-to-face or virtual learning, register today to save your free spot and connect with peers. Check out what’s on the calendar and join us at the next one!