Caring for Women with Vulvar HPV Disease: From Prevention to Quality of Life-Caring for Women with Vulvar HPV Disease: From Prevention to Quality of Life

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, jointly hosted by IGCS and IPVS, focused on caring for women with vulval HPV disease. It brought together international experts to discuss epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and the wider impact of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) on sexual health and quality of life.<br /><br />Dr. Elmar Joura reviewed the burden of HPV-related vulval disease, noting that HPV-16 is the dominant type in high-grade lesions and many vulval cancers. He explained that diagnosis requires biopsy, and treatment options include surgery and imiquimod, with imiquimod shown to be a valid non-surgical option for HPV-related high-grade VIN. He emphasized that differentiated VIN, which is HPV-independent, should be completely excised because of its higher risk of invasion and should not be treated with topical imiquimod. He also highlighted the strong preventive impact of HPV vaccination, especially when given early, and the potential to reduce recurrent and future HPV-related disease.<br /><br />Professor Maggie Cruikshank then addressed the often under-recognized psychosocial consequences of VIN. She described how disease and treatment can affect pain, body image, intimacy, sexual function, and long-term wellbeing, and argued that VIN should be viewed as a chronic condition requiring ongoing support. She stressed the importance of routine conversations about sexual health, patient-reported outcomes, and multidisciplinary care, including counselling, physiotherapy, and psychological support.<br /><br />The session concluded with a discussion on follow-up, anal screening, vaccination, and the need for lifelong surveillance and holistic care.

Keywords

vulval HPV disease

vulval intraepithelial neoplasia

VIN

HPV-16

biopsy diagnosis

imiquimod treatment

surgical excision

differentiated VIN

HPV vaccination

sexual health

quality of life

multidisciplinary care

lifelong surveillance