What Hpv Vaccines Are Available
Two vaccines are available to prevent HPV infection. These vaccines do not protect against all types of HPV or other sexually transmitted infections, but offer protection against some types.
- Gardasil 9 for use in all genders. Protects against 9 different types of HPV: seven that cause cancer and two that cause genital warts.
- Gardasil for use in all genders. Protects against 4 different types of HPV: two that cause cancer and two that cause genital warts.
Gardasil quadrivalent vaccine is no longer produced, but some supplies may still be available. If you are partway through your series with it, you may get the same vaccine or the 9-valent for your remaining dose. If you completed your series with a previous HPV vaccine, there is no recommendation to receive additional 9-valent vaccine.
Which Girls/women Should Receive Hpv Vaccination
HPV vaccination is recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls. It is also recommended for girls and women age 13 through 26 years of age who have not yet been vaccinated or completed the vaccine series HPV vaccine can also be given to girls beginning at age 9 years. CDC recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV. For more information on the recommendations, please see:
What Research Is Being Done On Strategies To Prevent Hpv Infection
If a single dose of HPV vaccine were effective, that would be an important advance. A large observational study using national data from women across Australia found that one dose of HPV vaccine was as effective as two or three doses in preventing high-grade cervical lesions . An analysis of data from a community-based clinical trial of Cervarix in Costa Rica, found that even one dose of the vaccine caused the body to produce approximately nine times more antibodies against HPV than the body produces in response to a natural HPV infection, and those antibody levels persisted for 11 years . In addition, the rates of HPV infection remained low for at least 10 years .
Two NCI-led clinical trials have been launched in Costa Rica to confirm and extend these findings. The ESCUDDO study, a randomized double-blind controlled trial involving 20,000 girls ages 1216 years, is testing whether one dose of either Cervarix or Gardasil 9 is as effective as two doses at preventing persistent cervical infection with HPV. PRIMAVERA-ESCUDDO, a non-randomized open-label trial, will provide earlier and complementary results to ESCUDDO about the immunogenicity of one dose of Cervarix in girls ages 914 years compared with three doses of Gardasil in women ages 1825 years.
Koutsky LA, Ault KA, Wheeler CM, et al. A controlled trial of a human papillomavirus type 16 vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine 2002 347:16451651.
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At What Age Should People Get The Hpv Vaccine
The CDC says the HPV vaccine is recommended for children, teenagers, and adults ages 926. The earlier someone gets the vaccine, the better, says Dr. Perkins, who recommends children are vaccinated before the ages of 12 for the most protection.
“This is because younger adolescents produce very good immune responses to the vaccine, so they only need two doses to be fully protected,” says Dr. Perkins. She also points out that almost no child has been exposed to HPV at this age, and since vaccines offer prevention, not treatment, the HPV vaccine will be less effective if someone has already been exposed to the virus.
When younger children receive the vaccine, they will also need fewer doses: The CDC says children ages 914 only need two doses given six to 12 months apart. Anyone over the age of 15 or those who are immunocompromised, however, will need three total doses, given over the course of six months, to make up for a lessened immune response.
How Much Does The Hpv Vaccine Cost
Each dose of the vaccine can cost about $250. Luckily, many health insurance companies cover the HPV vaccine. There are also programs that help some people without insurance get the vaccine for low or no cost.
You deserve to be healthy, regardless of whether you have health insurance. Talk with the staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center or another nurse or doctor to get more information about ways to make the vaccine more affordable.
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What Vaccinated Girls/women Need To Know: Will Girls/women Who Have Been Vaccinated Still Need Cervical Cancer Screening
Yes, vaccinated women will still need regular cervical cancer screening because the vaccine protects against most but not all HPV types that cause cervical cancer. Also, women who got the vaccine after becoming sexually active may not get the full benefit of the vaccine if they had already been exposed to HPV.
Not All Hpv Strains Cause Cancer
Most experts agree that the biggest medical concern associated with HPV is cancer. HPV causes about 3% of all new cancer cases with close to 36,000 cases of cancer a year, including:
- 99% of cervical cancer
- 70% of oropharyngeal cancer
- 65% of vaginal cancers
- 50% of vulvar cancers
- Some cancers of the penis and mouth
Only about 12 types of HPV are considered high risk, meaning that ongoing infection with one of them could eventually lead to cancer. But that doesnt mean other strains of HPV arent concerning. They cause all types of warts, including genital, common, plantar and flat warts commonly found on or near the genitals, anus, mouth or throat.
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Can Getting The Hpv Vaccine Help If I Already Have Genital Warts
Can vaccination for HPV virus help someone who already has genital warts? Will it help to protect my partner? Mel*
Getting the HVP vaccine is definitely still a good idea for you. That’s because there are different types of HPV some that cause warts, and others that cause cancer. Even if you have already been infected with the type of HPV that causes genital warts, you can still protect yourself against the types that can cause cancer since you may not be infected with those types yet.
If you get vaccinated now, it won’t protect your partner, though. But your partner can be vaccinated too. People of all genders should be vaccinated against HPV to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Even if you and your partner have both been vaccinated, always use condoms for any type of sex . Condoms help prevent the spread of the types of HPV that are not covered by the vaccine. And, of course, condoms also help protect against other sexually transmitted diseases .
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
What Is The Hpv Vaccine
The HPV vaccine currently available in the US, Gardasil 9, is the newest iteration of the vaccine. It’s a two-to-three dose vaccine regimen approved for use in all children that protects against HPV infection and HPV-related conditions, according to the CDC. Those conditions include:
- Genital warts
- Cervical precancers
- Cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva
- Penile cancer
- Anal cancer
- Oropharyngeal cancer
Of the more than 150 different strains of HPV, 40 are known to cause cancer. The HPV vaccine approved for use in the US protects against the nine strains responsible for about 90% of cervical cancers, Rebecca Perkins, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Boston University School of Medicine, tells Health.
Something to note: Gardasil was not the HPV vaccine used in the most recent UK study. That was, again, a first-generation HPV vaccine called Cervarix. Because Cervarix was one of the first iterations of the HPV vaccine, it didn’t protect against as many HPV strains. The HPV vaccines in circulation now protect against more strains of HPV, which means they offer more protection, says Dr. Perkins.
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Can Adults Older Than 26 Get The Hpv Vaccine
If you are older than 26 years old, you can still get the HPV vaccinebut there are a few caveats. First, the CDC specifically says it does not recommend HPV vaccination for everyone over the age of 26. The American Cancer Society goes a bit furtherthe organization specifically does not endorse HPV vaccination for those ages 2745.
The reasoning behind this is effectivenessspecifically the lack thereof. “People are usually exposed to HPV within a year or so of their first sexual experience,” says Dr. Perkins. That means there’s a low chance of cancer prevention from the vaccine in this age group.
Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t get the vaccine if you’re over 26: “You can still get the HPV vaccine if you’ve already had HPV,” says Dr. Perkins. “While it will not be as effective against the HPV type you currently have , you may be protected against other strains.”
In that case, some doctors even recommend the HPV vaccine for their patients, up to 45 years old. Kate White, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine is one of those doctorsshe tells Health she recommends all of her patients under the age of 45 to be vaccinated, even those in long-term monogamous relationships, just to err on the side of caution.
The CDC suggests adults ages 2745 who weren’t previously vaccinated against HPV speak with their doctor about their risk of new HPV infections, and any potential benefits they could reap from vaccination.
Hpv Can Cause Infertility
While your ability to become pregnant will stay consistent throughout an infection, the treatments used to stop the abnormal growth of cells in the cervix can lead to something called cervical inefficiency which will make it more difficult to become pregnant or lead to potential difficulties during later stages of pregnancy.
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Are There Reasons To Not Get Vaccinated Later In Life
Women who are pregnant are recommended to wait, as is true of many vaccines.
Have more questions about HPV, the vaccine, and cancer? Check out our FAQ for answers.
For the rest of the population, this is an incredibly safe and helpful vaccine. The benefits far outweigh any potential risks, which have proven to be negligible. Its also important to understand that the vaccines safety record is based on strong data from a very large number of people who have received the vaccine.
There have been concerns that supplies of the vaccine may be in low in some countries where rates of HPV and cervical cancer are particularly high, such as in many parts of Latin America.
However, there is plenty of vaccine in the United States. And its not clear that adequate supplies in one country will solve a shortage in a different country. Pharmaceutical markets are not that simple.
One of the most serious drawbacks to getting the vaccine later in life is cost. The vaccine costs around $600 and many insurers do not cover it after adolescence. However, that appears to be changing recently. And with federal health officials expanding the recommended age range for vaccination, more insurers are expected to cover it.
How Is Hpv Treated
There is no treatment for HPV. The body usually gets rid of the virus by itself over time, which can take about a year. You will probably need to be re-tested to see if the virus has gone.
If you develop genital warts, your doctor may ‘freeze’ them off or suggest an ointment or cream. Sometimes genital warts need to be removed in hospital.
Cervical and other cancers need to be treated by specialists. Your doctor will advise you on the treatments you need.
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Who Can Get The Hpv Vaccine
The groups listed below can get the HPV vaccine for free. If you dont fall into one of these groups, you can pay to have the vaccine privately. But the vaccine wont be as effective if you have already been exposed to HPV. And as HPV is a very common virus, most adults will have already been exposed to it.
Other people at higher risk may be offered the vaccine for free on a case by case basis. If youre not sure whether you are eligible, speak to your doctor.
How Effective Is The Hpv Vaccine In Preventing Hpv
When doses are given at the recommended ages and at the appropriate intervals, it has been shown to prevent 90% of cancer-causing HPV. Research has also shown that fewer teens and young adults are getting genital warts. The number of cervical precancers are decreasing since HPV vaccines have been in use.
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Should Hpv Vaccines Be Given To People Who Are Already Infected With Hpv Or Have Cervical Cell Changes
ACIP recommends that people who have an HPV infection and/or an abnormal Pap test result that may indicate an HPV infection should still receive the HPV vaccine if they are in the appropriate age group because the vaccine may protect them against high-risk HPV types that they have not yet acquired. However, these people should be told that the vaccination will not cure them of current HPV infections or treat the abnormal results of their Pap test .
Although HPV vaccines have been found to be safe when given to people who are already infected with HPV, the vaccines provide maximum benefit if a person receives them before he or she is sexually active .
It is likely that someone previously infected with HPV will still get some residual benefit from vaccination, even if he or she has already been infected with one or more of the HPV types included in the vaccines.
Does The Hpv Vaccine Prevent Cervical Cell Changes
A study in Scotland found diagnoses of cervical cell changes decreased by 89% in people who have had the HPV vaccine. This includes the cell changes called CIN1, CIN2 and CIN3. This research looked at girls and women aged 15 to 26.
Another study in England found that, for women who had the vaccine in their teens, there were about 17,200 fewer diagnoses of high-grade cervical cell changes in their 20s.
Read more about cell changes >
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How Effective Are The Vaccines
The HPV vaccines have demonstrated very high efficacy in preventing the types of HPV infection for which they are indicated . If you are infected with one of the HPV types in the vaccine, the vaccine will still protect against the other type in the vaccine. HPV DNA testing is not recommended prior to vaccination.
Which Strains Of Hpv Does The Vaccine Cover
According to Kim Langdon, MD, an ob-gyn with Medzino, there are about 100 known types of HPV in the world today, all of which are classified by number. “The most common genital ones are 6, 11, 16, and 18, and 6 and 11 can result in genital warts and laryngeal papillomas,” or abnormal growths on the vocal cords, Dr. Langdon told POPSUGAR. Two of these strains 16 and 18 are also associated with cervical cancer.
Wendy Askew, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn in San Antonio, TX, explained that the Gardasil vaccine protects against nine of these strains, including 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. These are the most clinically relevant to cervical cancer and genital warts, and studies of the vaccine show that it’s extremely effective at preventing infections stemming from these strains.
That said, you can still contract HPV even if you’ve been vaccinated, because there are least 91 other strains that aren’t covered by the shot.
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Are There Other Ways To Prevent Hpv
For those who are sexually active, condoms may lower the chances of getting HPV, if used with every sex act, from start to finish. Condoms may also lower the risk of developing HPV-related diseases . But HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condomso condoms may not fully protect against HPV.
People can also lower their chances of getting HPV by being in a faithful relationship with one partner limiting their number of sex partners and choosing a partner who has had no or few prior sex partners. But even people with only one lifetime sex partner can get HPV. And it may not be possible to determine if a partner who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected. Thats why the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity.
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How Has The Hpv Vaccination Programme Changed
In July 2018, it was announced that the HPV vaccine would be extended to boys aged 12 to 13 years in England.
This decision was based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation , the independent body that advises UK health departments on immunisation.
Since the 2019 to 2020 school year, both 12- to 13-year-old boys and girls in school Year 8 have been eligible for the HPV vaccine.
The HPV vaccination programme has been extended to prevent more boys and girls getting HPV-related cancers, such as head and neck cancers and anal and genital cancers.
A catch-up programme for older boys is not necessary as evidence suggests they’re already benefiting greatly from the indirect protection that’s built up from 10 years of the girls’ HPV vaccination programme.
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