Written by Fern Koch | Reviewed by Uche Ruth
Updated on May 30, 2024
There has been so much controversy around the HPV vaccine, but what’s the final word? Is it safe for all genders? What about children and adults?
In 2018, the FDA approved expanded use of the HPV vaccine to cover adults up to 45 years of age, besides children and adolescents. While there has been an ongoing debate about the HPV vaccine and the potential side effects it can cause, the CDC’s revised guidelines recommend that all individuals through the age of 26 receive the vaccine. The adjusted guidelines also clarify dosage for adults and people with lower immunity.
This post will help explain what HPV is, what the HPV vaccine is, and what the pros and cons are of the vaccine. This way, you can decide how to best protect your family from the diseases HPV can cause.
HPV, short for human papillomavirus, isn’t just one virus. It’s a collection of over 200 related viruses known as HPV types. Even though many of these HPV types go away on their own, some cause genital warts and others can cause cancers in both males and females. Some examples of cancers that HPV can cause include:
HPV is common and widespread — about one in four people in the US have HPV. In fact, the CDC estimates that almost every sexually active person will be infected with HPV at some point if they don’t get the HPV vaccine! The reason being is HPV passes easily through direct sexual contact; that includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
The HPV vaccine is an injection that helps protect people against HPV and the diseases it can cause, including genital warts and certain types of cancer. Three vaccines were developed to prevent HPV infection: Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix. Currently, Gardasil 9 is the only HPV vaccine that is used in the United States. The vaccine is given to individuals in two or three doses over the course of 6 to 12 months.
According to the American Cancer Society, 120 million HPV vaccine doses have been given in the U.S. since 2006. But when the vaccine was first rolled out, a number of factors made people hesitant to get themselves or their children vaccinated, including:
Today, scientists have more than 12 years of long-term safety data for the current HPV vaccine. Making sure Gardasil 9 stays safe is an ongoing process.
With that said, there are always going to be benefits and risks to taking any vaccine. Whether you’re considering the HPV vaccine for yourself or your child, we’ve broken down the pros and cons of the shot below to help you with your decision!
Research has consistently found the HPV vaccine to be very effective in preventing various infections and diseases. Some of the pros of taking the HPV vaccine are as follows:
As with most vaccines, you may experience some side effects after getting the shot. In the case of Gardasil 9, the most common side effects are mild and include:
If you’re worried that the HPV vaccine could cause HPV, don’t. Gardasil 9 doesn’t actually contain the HPV virus. It only contains one small substance from it to help your immune system build antibodies against the virus.
Similarly, there’s no evidence that getting the HPV vaccine negatively affects a person’s fertility in the future. It’s quite the opposite — the HPV vaccine protects against potential fertility-related complications that certain cancers could cause.
As you evaluate pros and cons of the HPV vaccine, here are some important factors that may impact your decision to become vaccinated:
Healthcare professionals recommend that all children, regardless of gender, get their first dose of the HPV vaccine at 11 or 12 years old. However, a child can get the vaccine as early as age 9.
Getting the HPV vaccine doesn’t mean your child is sexually active or will be soon. Healthcare professionals recommend HPV vaccination, so your child can be fully protected before possible exposure to HPV.
No matter when your child becomes sexually active (even if it’s not until adulthood) there’s a high chance they’ll come into contact with HPV at some point. While in most cases, your immune system will try to clear HPV infections on its own, it may not always be able to do so — especially if you have a high-risk HPV type. And even if a person has already been exposed to HPV, the vaccine provides protection from other types of HPV that they may not have been exposed to.
Making sure your child gets vaccinated against HPV is a way to protect their future health.
If you are over 12 years old but haven’t yet received the HPV vaccine, the CDC still recommends everyone through the age of 26 to get it. We now have evidence that older adults are at risk for HPV infections too and are not protected. And there have been calls to raise vaccination rates amongst men since just like women, men are susceptible to HPV-related cancers. In fact, cancers of a part of the throat that are caused by HPV (known as oropharyngeal cancers) are on the rise in men.
In 2018, the FDA approved a request by the manufacturer of Gardasil 9 to extend the age limit of the vaccine to cover some adults ages 27 to 45. Adults who fall into this age range can discuss with their healthcare provider whether receiving the HPV vaccine is in their best interest. Since the vaccine can be expensive, you’ll want to see if it’ll be covered under your insurance plan.
Current HPV vaccine guidelines indicate that dosage is the same across all genders and includes either two or three doses. The exact number of doses depends on people’s age during the time of their first dose or health condition:
Once you’ve received your HPV vaccine doses at the recommended intervals for your age or condition, you don’t need to get any more! Similarly, if your vaccination schedule is interrupted for any reason, the series doesn’t need to be restarted.
The Gardasil 9 vaccine prevents over 90% of HPV-related cancers.
The Gardasil 9 vaccine prevents over 90% of HPV-related cancers.
With mostly mild side effects, the Gardasil 9 vaccine can prevent over 90% of HPV-related cancers from ever occurring. Again, deciding whether to vaccinate yourself or your child is a personal decision. After weighing the benefits against the potential risks, choosing the HPV vaccine is the right decision for most people.
These drugs are vital for controlling and improving the health of individuals with this condition. They include both preventive and symptomatic treatments.
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