E HPV vaccine is kent aa ower e warld for preventin cervical cancer, but nyow resairch suggests its benefits micht rax weel ayont oncology, offerin a pouerfu shield agin serious complications durin pregnancy. A landmerk study led by the University o Aiberdeen has fund aat wimmin vaccinated agin Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are significantly less likely tae suffer fae pre-eclampsia, premature rupture o membranes, an bleedin durin pregnancy. E resairch, published in e European Journal o Obstetrics & Gynecology an Reproductive Biology, is e first in e warld tae investigate e link atween e vaccine an iss braid range o adverse ootcomes.
Analysin data fae ower 11,000 bairths recorded in e Aiberdeen Maternity an Neonatal Databank atween 2006 an 2020, e study compared ootcomes atween wimmin vaccinated as skweel-bairns an eens at wirna. E results wir strickin. Efter adjustin for factors sic as smokin an social deprivation, vaccinated wimmin seen a 62% reduction in e risk o pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition characterised by heich bleed pressure.
E study fund a 50% reduction in Preterm Prelabour Rupture o Membranes (PPROM)—far watters brak early—an a 29% reduction in antepartum hemorrhage (bleedin efter 24 wikk). Fordermair, instances o watters brakkin afore labour at fu term (PROM) drapt by 75%.
Dr. Andrea Woolner, Senior Clinical Lecturer at e University o Aiberdeen an lead resaircher, pynted oot e significance o the finnins. “We fund aat wimmin vaccinated agin HPV hid better ootcomes than eens aat wirna vaccinated for several common pregnancy complications,” Dr. Woolner said. “Nae ainly dis e HPV vaccine protect agin cancer – we hae fund in wir resairch, aat e vaccine micht protect agin serious pregnancy related complications.”
Fit Wey E Protection?
E study proposes aat e vaccine protects pregnancies in twa distinct weys. E first is “mechanical”: preventin HPV infection avides e need for cervical surgeries tae lift pre-cancerous cells, fit can physically wauken e cervix an mak it hairder tae cairry a bairn tae term. E saicont, mair novel theory is “biological.” E resairchers hypothesise aat e virus itsel micht disrupt foo the placenta implants in e wame, leadin tae complications like pre-eclampsia. Additionally, HPV infection can deplete beneficial bacteria in e vagina, potentially waukenin e amniotic sac an causin watters tae brak early.
Fyle e study didna fin a statistically significant drap in e oweraa rate o spontaneous preterm birth ower e hale population, it did confirm aat e specific complications aften leadin tae preterm birth wir drastically reduced.
E resairchers emphasise aat iss benefits rely on early vaccination. Dr. Xiaoqian Xu, a collaborator on e study, noted: “E HPV vaccine is maist effective gin administered afore ony sexual activity sae early HPV vaccination is vital, delayin or catchin up later micht miss e best chunce tae protect baith agin cancer an pregnancy complications.”
E team suggested aat e finnins support e expansion o vaccination programs tae loons. “Vaccinatin loons alangside quines enhances herd immunity, significantly reducin e risk o HPV-related cancers in aa genders an supportin healthier pregnancies in e future,” said Dr. Maggie Cruickshank, Emeritus Professor at e University o Aiberdeen. “Iss nyow finnins apen e door tae explorin additional benefits o the HPV vaccine for men.”
E study wis funded by the NHS Grampian Charity an a Newton Fund PhD Fellowship.