Articles
HPV vaccine: Who needs it, how it works
Content
What does the HPV vaccine do?
Who is the HPV vaccine for and when should it be given?
Who should not get the HPV vaccine?
Does the HPV vaccine offer benefits if you're already sexually active?
Does the HPV vaccine carry any health risks or side effects?
Is the HPV vaccine required for school enrollment?
Do women who've received the HPV vaccine still need to have Pap tests?
What can you do to protect yourself from cervical cancer if you're not in the recommended vaccine age group?
Does the HPV vaccine offer benefits if you're already sexually active?
Yes. Even if you already have one strain of HPV, you could still benefit from the vaccine because it can protect you from other strains that you don't yet have. However, none of the vaccines can treat an existing HPV infection. The vaccines protect you only from specific strains of HPV you haven't been exposed to already.
