What Is Gardasil 9
Gardasil 9 is a vaccine thats used to prevent certain diseases caused by human papillomavirus .
HPV is a virus that can cause very serious conditions such as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and certain head and neck cancers. It can also cause precancerous spots to form in those areas. In addition to cancer and precancerous spots, HPV can also cause genital warts.
Gardasil 9 is approved for use in children and adults ages 9 through 45 years old. The vaccine is usually injected into the muscle in your upper arm. It can be given as two or three shots over the course of 6 to 12 months.
Is Gardasil 9 Safe
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Its approved for use in children and adults ages 9 to 45 years old.
Gardasil 9 is an inactive vaccine. This means it cant cause HPV to occur in people who get the vaccine.
The most common side effects that can occur from a Gardasil 9 vaccine include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, headache, and fever. These side effects are very similar to side effects you may experience from other inactive vaccines.
Does The Hpv Vaccine Protect Me For Life
The vaccine appears to offer long-term protection from HPV. But, even women who have received the vaccine should see their gynecologist regularly for a Pap test to check for cervical cancer. The vaccine doesnât protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer.
If you missed part of the HPV vaccine series, talk to your doctor about getting the missing dose.
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Does The Hpv Vaccine Have Side Effects Or Other Cons
Probably the most important con for the HPV vaccine is potential side effects. That said, side effects arent common.
Most people receive the HPV vaccine without having any serious side effects. Mild to moderate side effects occur more often but are still uncommon. Mild to moderate side effects can include:
- pain or swelling at the injection site
- slight fever
of HPV vaccination demonstrated that the vaccine is as safe as any other vaccination.
These studies also support that people who receive this vaccine are not at a when compared to receiving any other vaccine, whether immediately after vaccination or in the long-term future.
The HPV vaccine and may improve fertility in some women whove been exposed to STIs.
One other con of the HPV vaccines is that theyre limited in what they do:
- The vaccines dont prevent all HPV-related cancers, only some. Therefore, its vital that women still get a routine Pap test to check for any signs of cervical cancer.
- The vaccines dont protect against other sexually transmitted infections or treat existing HPV-related illnesses or infections. Youll still need to use condoms or other barrier methods during sex to help prevent contracting or transmitting STIs.
Whos most at risk of getting HPV if theyre not vaccinated? There are several factors that can put you at increased risk for contracting HPV if youre not vaccinated. These include having:
Fortunately, many of these risk factors can be controlled.
Vaccine Misinformation On Social Media
Why are more parents concerned now about vaccine safety than when it was first launched or in 2015 now that over 135 million doses have been administered in the United States? Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Duke University School of Medicine, and his colleagues .
Studies have shown that while individuals trust medical professionals for health information, a growing number are turning to the internet for first and second opinions about HPV, HPV vaccines, and HPV-associated cancer, they continued.
Unfortunately, some information about HPV vaccines and cancer found online and on social media is inaccurate. There has been a rise in negative and incorrect informationalso called misinformationabout HPV vaccines on social media in recent years, Dr. Sonawane noted. And research has shown that parents who are exposed to misinformation about HPV vaccines on social media are less likely to vaccinate their children.
Nationwide programs, such as CDCs Vaccinate with Confidence program, can help tackle vaccine misinformation and provide resources for effective communications, Dr. Sonawane said. There are also resources like smartphone apps, she added, that teach health care providers effective strategies for talking with parents about the HPV vaccine.
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Who Is Recommended To Get The Hpv Vaccine
The vaccine is recommended for males and females ages 9 to 16 and is most commonly bundled in doctor visits with the meningitis and Tdap vaccines given starting around age 11. While this age feels very young for vaccination against a sexually transmitted infection to many parents, thats also the point: the vaccine is most effective when given before someone begins engaging in sexual activity. Most people are exposed to at least one strain of HPV within two to five years after first having sex. Therefore, if the recommendation were made for the whole population at an older age, such as the late teens, there would be many people who have already begun sexual activity and would not get as much protection. For example, more than half of all teens have had sex by the time they turn 18, according to the CDC. The average age of first intercourse is 16 among males and 17 among females in the US, according to the Kinsey Institute. Even if your child doesnt have sex until an older age, the CDC must make recommendations for the whole population and take into account risks such as sexual assault, which can occur at earlier ages and, obviously, without a minors consent.
More Common Side Effects
The more common side effects of Gardasil 9 can include:
- pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
- bruising, bleeding, itching, or a lump at the injection site
- headache
- sore throat
- abdominal pain
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If theyre more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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What Does Hpv Mean For My Relationship
HPV infections are usually temporary. A person may have HPV for many years before it causes health problems. If you or your partner receive a diagnosis of a disease from HPV, there is no way to know:
- How long you have had HPV
- Whether your partner gave you HPV or
- Whether you gave HPV to your partner.
HPV is not always a sign that one of you is having sex outside of your relationship. It is important that sex partners discuss their sexual health and risk for STIs with each other.
Gardasil 9 Side Effects
Gardasil 9 can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Gardasil 9. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information on the possible side effects of Gardasil 9, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome.
Note: The Food and Drug Association tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect youve had with Gardasil 9, you can do so through MedWatch.
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What Are The Advantages Of Getting The Hpv Vaccine
The biggest advantage is reducing your risk for cancers caused by HPV infection. HPV is so common that around 80% of people in the United States will encounter it at some point in their lives. There is no way to know which infection can lead to cancer. Vaccinating against HPV is the best protection available at this time.
Can I Get Other Vaccines At The Same Time I Get Gardasil 9
Yes, you can get other vaccines at the same time as your Gardasil 9 vaccine. However, you may have a higher risk of swelling at the injection site if you get multiple vaccines at once.
In clinical trials, side effects were similar in people who got the Gardasil 9 vaccine only, and in those who received Gardasil 9 along with Menactra and Adacel .
However, swelling at the injection site was more common in people getting the three vaccines together. Swelling occurred in 14.4% of people who received Menactra, Adacel, and Gardasil 9. This is compared to 9.4% of people who only received Gardasil 9.
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How Can I Lower My Chance Of Getting Hpv
There are two steps you can take to lower your chances of getting HPV and diseases from HPV:
- Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect men against warts and certain cancers caused by HPV. Ideally, you should get vaccinated before ever having sex.
- Use condomsthe right way every time you have sex. This can lower your chances of getting all STIs, including HPV. However, HPV can infect areas the condom does not cover. So, condoms may not offer full protection against getting HPV.
Benefits Of Hpv Vaccination
There is ongoing, active scientific inquiry and clinical trials to extend the vaccine to include activity against more of the oncogenic viral subtypes for cancers invading the oropharyngeal and anogenital regions. Merck has a 9-valent vaccine including 5 additional cancer-causing subtypes to increase activity against these types of cancer . Sales for the Gardasil vaccine have increased over the past 3 years . This measure serves as a surrogate for total vaccine doses produced by the pharmaceutical company. Numbers of patients actually vaccinated are difficult to extrapolate. The current data regarding estimated HPV vaccination coverage among adolescent boys and girls aged 13-17 details an increase in completed vaccine series from 5.9% in 2007 to 37.6% in 2013 for girls and 1.3% to 13.9% in boys from 2011 to 2013 .
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What Does Having Hpv Mean For Me Or My Sex Partners Health
See a healthcare provider if you have questions about anything new or unusual on your or your partners:
- Penis,
- Throat
Anything new or unusual could be warts, unusual growths, lumps, or sores.
Even if you are healthy, you and your sex partner may also want to get tested for other STIs.
If you or your partner have genital warts, stop having sex until you no longer have warts. We do not know how long a person is able to spread HPV after warts go away.
What Are The Side Effects Of Gardasil
The currentGardasil 9 HPV vaccine protects against the same four types of HPV that original Gardasil 4 protected against, plus five additional high-risk types .
According to the Gardasil 9 package insert, the most common Gardasil 9 side effects are:
- Headache
- Severe itching
- Bruising
The Gardasil package insert mentionsseveral other serious conditions that were reported during the controversial clinical trials. However, because the clinical trials compared Gardasil to the adjuvant used in the vaccine with no mention of the toxic effects of adjuvants rather than a placebo, the package insert reader is left with the impression that these conditions are unrelated to the vaccine. These conditions are listed below.
In particular, many clinical trial participants developed autoimmune conditions.
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Can Hpv Cause Cancer
Yes. HPV itself isnt cancer but it can cause changes in the body that lead to cancer. HPV infections usually go away by themselves. When they dont, they can cause certain kinds of cancer to grow. These include:
- Cervical cancer in women
- Penile cancer in men
- Anal cancer in both women and men
- Oropharyngeal cancer, cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils
All of these cancers come from HPV infections that did not go away. Cancer grows very slowly. The diagnosis may not be until years, or even decades, after a person gets HPV. Currently, there is no way to know who will get cancer after getting HPV.
Are There Any Side Effects For The Hpv Vaccine
As with any vaccination there can be side effects and the HPV injection is no exception. Side effects of the HPV vaccine are mostly temporary and occur around the part of your arm that you had the injection in. Of those who have the Gardasil 9 jab, more than 1 in 10 people will experience the following side effects around the injection site:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
These tend to be temporary and shouldnt last more than a couple of days. You may also experience headaches, but again these shouldnt last very long. If you are worried about side effects, you can always ask one of our pharmacists.
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What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
It’s common to have questions prior to getting a vaccine. Some questions you may want to ask your healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine are:
- When should I get the HPV vaccine?
- Are there any side effects of the HPV vaccine?
- How does the HPV vaccine work?
- Where is the HPV vaccine given?
- How effective is the HPV vaccine?
- Is there any reason to not get the HPV vaccine?
Gardasil 9 And Pregnancy
Its not known if Gardasil 9 is safe to get during pregnancy. In clinical trials, pregnant females* were told to wait and get their vaccine after pregnancy.
If youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best time to receive the Gardasil 9 vaccine.
People who get the Gardasil 9 vaccine while pregnant can enroll in the Merck pregnancy registry by calling 800-986-8999. Pregnancy registries are important because they provide information that helps determine the safety of drugs and vaccines during pregnancy.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms male and female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
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Hpv Vaccine: Safety Side Effects And Misconceptions
16 hours ago · HPV vaccines are safe and protect against many types of cancer including cervical, throat, and anal. Common HPV vaccine side effects should subside in 2 days and include dizziness, nausea, and fainting. HPV vaccines dont cause infertility, GBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, or postural tachycardia syndrome.
What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Warts
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. The warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose genital warts by looking at them. Genital warts can come back, even after treatment. The types of HPV that cause warts do not cause cancer.
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Why Is The Hpv Vaccine Recommended
HPV can cause some types of cancer and genital warts. The vaccine is an important way to prevent infection and the spread of HPV. It works best when given before someone might be exposed to the virus.
The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of HPV. So people who are sexually active should always use condoms. Girls and women should see their gynecologist regularly and get pap smears as recommended .
Who Shouldnt Get The Vaccine
Some individuals are explicitly not recommended to get the HPV vaccine even if they fall within the recommended age groups. Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to an ingredient in the HPV vaccine or to a previous dose of the HPV vaccine should not get any additional doses. One of the ingredients in Gardasil 9 is saccharomyces cerevisiae, or bakers yeast, so people who have a history of hypersensitivity to yeast should not get the vaccine.
People who have a current infection, such as influenza or a more serious illness, can still receive the vaccine, but the CDC generally advises that people wait until the acute symptoms of the disease pass before getting the dose. If you have a fever, there is no evidence of a greater risk of side effects from the HPV vaccine, but getting the vaccine means you would not be able to tell if you develop a fever from the vaccine or if the fever is from the current infection. If your illness is minor, such as a cold, thats not a reason to put off vaccination, according to the CDC.
Still, the vaccine has not been studied in a pregnant population during clinical trials, so there is not enough evidence for the CDC to recommend it during pregnancy. Instead, the CDC recommends waiting until after pregnancy to get the second or third doses.
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How Many Shots Are There For The Hpv Vaccine
The vaccine is given in a series. The number of shots you need varies depending on the age you are at your first dose.
- Anyone getting the vaccine prior to age 15 needs two doses of the HPV vaccine to be fully protected. They should be given six to twelve months apart.
- If you are 15 through 26 years old, you need three doses. You will need a second dose one to two months after your first dose. Then you will need a third dose six months after the first dose.
What Does The 9 Stand For In Gardasil 9
The 9 in Gardasil 9 stands for the nine types of HPV that the vaccine protects against. There are more than 100 types of HPV. However, the nine types that Gardasil 9 protects against are the ones that cause the majority of HPV-related cancers in both males and females.* Gardasil 9 protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms male and female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
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