Answering questions about HPV cancers
Search for answers to frequently asked questions about HPV vaccination and HPV cancer prevention. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to our leadership team.
Yes. More than 270 million doses of vaccine have been distributed worldwide, with more than 100 million doses in the U.S. Like with all vaccines, HPV vaccine safety is constantly monitored, and these studies continue to show that HPV vaccination is very safe. All medications and vaccines can have side effects. The most common side effects seen with HPV vaccination are mild and are very similar to the reactions from other vaccines. 1,2
1 Weekly epidemiological record, 14 July 2017, vol. 92, 28 (pp. 393–404). World Health Organization.
http://www.who.int/wer/2017/wer9228/en/. Accessed April 4, 2018.
2 Human papillomavirus (HPV) questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/questions-answers.html. Published December 19, 2017. Accessed April 4, 2018.
No. There is no data to suggest that getting the HPV vaccine will have a negative effect on future fertility. In fact, getting vaccinated protects against cervical cancer and can help ensure a woman’s ability to get pregnant and have healthy babies. 3
3 What parents should know about HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/partners/downloads/teens/vaccine-safety.pdf. Published April 22, 2016.Accessed April 4, 2018.
No. People are exposed to aluminum every day through food and cooking utensils. Aluminum-containing vaccines have been used for decades and have been given to more than 1 billion people without problems. In spring 2000, the National Vaccine Program Office reviewed aluminum exposure from vaccines and determined that no changes to vaccine recommendations were needed based on aluminum content. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, part of the World Health Organization, has also reviewed studies and found no evidence of health risks that would require changes to vaccine policy. 4
4 Vaccine ingredients – aluminum. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-ingredients/aluminum. Published November 4, 2014. Accessed April 4, 2018.
Yes. People are vaccinated well before they’re exposed to an infection – just like measles or pneumonia. Similarly, they should be vaccinated before they are exposed to HPV. Vaccinating children at age 11 or 12 offers the most HPV cancer prevention. 2
HPV is so common that almost everyone will be exposed at some point in their lives. So even if your child delays sexual activity until marriage, or only has one partner in the future, they could still be exposed if their partner has been exposed. 10,11
Studies have shown there’s no correlation between receiving the HPV vaccine and increased rates of, or earlier engagement in, sexual activity. 8
2 Human papillomavirus (HPV) questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/questions-answers.html. Published December 19, 2017. Accessed April 4, 2018.
10 Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. National Cancer Institute.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-vaccine-fact-sheet. Accessed April 5, 2018.
11 Chesson HW, Dunne EF, Hariri S, Markowitz LE. The estimated lifetime probability of acquiring human papillomavirus in the United States. Sex Transm Dis. 2014;41(11):660-664. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000193.
8 Jena AB, Goldman DP, Seabury SA. Incidence of sexually transmitted infections after human papillomavirus vaccination among adolescent females. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):617-623. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7886.
Yes. HPV vaccination is strongly recommended for boys and girls. Vaccination helps protect boys from getting infected with the most common types of HPV that can cause cancers of the throat, penis, and anus. 3
3 What parents should know about HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/partners/downloads/teens/vaccine-safety.pdf. Published April 22, 2016.Accessed April 4, 2018.
Yes. The vaccine has been proven, through numerous studies, to prevent the infections that can cause multiple HPV cancers. In addition, population studies in the U.S. and other countries that have introduced the HPV vaccine have shown a significant reduction in abnormal Pap test results 13,14 and genital warts. 15,16
13 Pollock KGJ, Kavanagh K, Potts A, et al. Reduction of low- and high-grade cervical abnormalities associated with high uptake of the HPV bivalent vaccine in Scotland. Br J Cancer. 2014;111(9):1824-1830. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.479.
14 Baldur-Felskov B, Dehlendorff C, Munk C, Kjaer SK. Early impact of human papillomavirus vaccination on cervical neoplasia – Nationwide follow-up of young Danish women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014;106(3):djt460. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt460.
15 Ali H, Donovan B, Wand H, et al. Genital warts in young Australians five years into national human papillomavirus vaccination programme: national surveillance data. BMJ. 2013;346:f2032. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f2032.
16 Bauer HM, Wright G, Chow J. Evidence of human papillomavirus vaccine effectiveness in reducing genital warts: an analysis of California public family planning administrative claims data, 2007-2010. Am J Public Health. 2012;102(5):833-835.doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300465.
Yes: Try this effective recommendation: Your child needs three vaccines today to protect against meningitis, HPV cancers and pertussis.
No. Studies continue to monitor how long the vaccine protects against HPV infections and cancer. Protection has been shown to last more than 10 years with no signs of the protection weakening.
HPV is short for human papillomavirus, a common virus. HPV can cause cancer in men and women. HPV vaccination helps prevent the infections that lead to many HPV cancers.
HPV vaccination is strongly recommended for boys and girls. The vaccine helps prevent infection with the most common types of HPV that can cause cervical, throat, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancer.
HPV vaccination is cancer prevention. By starting prevention at age 11 or 12, you offer the most HPV cancer prevention for your child. HPV is so common that most people will catch it at some point in their lives. Children are vaccinated before they’re exposed to an infection – just like measles or pneumonia.
It takes two shots to help prevent cancer. The HPV vaccine is given as a series of two shots six to 12 months apart. Doctors recommend that girls and boys get vaccinated against HPV at age 11 or 12, but can be started as early as age 9. The series should be complete by age 13.
Parents who are concerned about vaccine ingredients are often worried about aluminum. People are exposed to aluminum every day through food and cooking utensils. Aluminum-containing vaccines have been used for decades and have been given to more than 1 billion people without problems.