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?
What does the HPV vaccine do?
Various strains of HPV spread through sexual contact and are associated with most cases of cervical cancer. Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and can be used for both girls and boys.
This vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if the vaccine is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. This vaccine can also prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer. In addition, the vaccine can prevent genital warts, anal cancers, and mouth, throat, head and neck cancers in women and men.
In theory, vaccinating boys against the types of HPV associated with cervical cancer might also help protect girls from the virus by possibly decreasing transmission.
