I’ve heard that DES Daughters are at higher risk for getting HPV than other women. Does that mean we are good candidates for the vaccine?
A. Many DES Daughters have a larger cervical transformation zone than unexposed women, and that’s where the HPV virus invades cells. With a bigger area, clearly DES Daughters may run an increased risk for HPV infection. But we are seeing that as DES Daughters age, their cervical transformation zones often shrink back to normal size. Then, we must remember that most DES Daughters are not teenagers anymore. They have probably been sexually active through the years and may have been exposed to some of the main strains of HPV. As a result, I don’t think a majority of DES Daughters will actually be good candidates for this vaccine.
