Final answer:
The HPV types mainly responsible for cervical cancers are HPV 16 and HPV 18, associated with about 70% of cases. Vaccination with Gardasil or Cervarix greatly reduces the risk of these HPV types causing cervical cancer, with regular Pap testing also playing a crucial role in early detection and treatment of potential cervical cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The types of HPV mainly responsible for cervical cancers are HPV 16 and HPV 18, which are associated with approximately 70% of cervical cancers. These types are part of the high-risk HPV strains that have a greater potential to cause cancer compared to low-risk strains, which typically cause genital warts but are not linked to cancer. It's also noted that the Gardasil vaccine covers HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, while Gardasil 9 includes five additional high-risk HPV types (31, 33, 45, 52, and 58), and Cervarix includes HPV types 16 and 18.
Regular screening through Pap tests can detect abnormal cervical cells that may develop into cancer, and HPV vaccines are effective in preventing the infections by high-risk HPV types known to cause cervical cancers. Unfortunately, not all oncogenic HPV types are covered by the current vaccines. Therefore, vaccination before the onset of sexual activity is recommended for both boys and girls to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.