Are There Other Ways To Prevent Cervical Cancer
Regular cervical cancer screening and follow-up can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. The Pap test can detect cell changes in the cervix before they turn into cancer. The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes. Screening can detect most, but not all, cervical cancers at an early, treatable stage. Most women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. have either never been screened, or have not been screened in the last 5 years.
Gardasil 9 For Preventing Precancerous Or Abnormal Lesions Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is FDA-approved to prevent precancerous growths or abnormal lesions caused by HPV.
HPV can cause abnormal changes in your cervix, vulva, vagina, or anus. Some of these changes are called neoplasia, and they can lead to cancer in some people.
Effectiveness
Gardasil 9 has been found to be effective in preventing certain abnormal growths or changes caused by HPV. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Gardasil 9s prescribing information.
The recommends vaccinating children ages 9 through 12 years against HPV.
Getting The Hpv Vaccine
The vaccine is offered routinely, through a school-based programme, to all males and females aged 12 to 13 years . If you have been eligible for the vaccine but have not received it in school, you can still receive it free of charge until the age of 25, if you ask your doctor.
If you start the vaccination course on or after your 15th birthday, you need three doses to be fully protected. This is because the antibody response is weaker in older girls and boys.
If you have not received the vaccine and believe the HPV vaccine could be helpful, you can discuss this with your GP. They may prescribe the vaccine for you.
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How Is The Hpv Vaccine Given
The HPV vaccine is given as 2 injections into the upper arm spaced at least 6 months apart.
It’s important to have both doses of the vaccine to be properly protected.
If you missed the HPV vaccine offered in school Year 8, you can get it for free up until your 25th birthday.
But if you get your 1st vaccine dose at the age of 15 or over, you’ll need to have 3 injections.
Men who have sex with men , and trans men and trans women who are eligible for the vaccine, will need 3 doses of the vaccine .
If you need 3 doses of the vaccine:
- the 2nd dose should be given at least 1 month after the 1st dose
- the 3rd dose should be given at least 3 months after the 2nd dose
It’s important to have all 3 vaccine doses to be properly protected.
Research Shows That Cervical Cancer Rates Are Nearly 90 Per Cent Lower Among Women Who Were Given The Vaccine As A Teenager

The HPV vaccine has stopped hundreds of women from developing cervical cancer since it was first rolled out in England 13 years ago, according to a new study.
The research showed that cervical cancer rates are nearly 90 per cent lower among women who were given the vaccine as a teenager.
But how does the HPV vaccine work, and what is HPV? Heres everything you need to know.
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Dosage For Preventing Cervical Vulvar Vaginal And Anal Cancer Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is recommended to prevent certain cancers caused by HPV such as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers. The recommended dosage for adults ages 18 to 45 years old is a 0.5-mL injection into the muscle, usually in your upper arm.
Its recommended that you receive three doses of Gardasil 9. After you receive one dose, you get a second dose 2 months later and a final dose 6 months after the first dose.
Why Is The Hpv Vaccine Important
Genital HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another through direct skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Most sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives, though most will never even know it. HPV infection is most common in people in their late teens and early 20s. There are about 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of men and women. Most HPV types cause no symptoms and go away on their own. But some types can cause cervical cancer in women and other less common cancers like cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, and vulva and oropharynx. Other types of HPV can cause warts in the genital areas of men and women, called genital warts. Genital warts are not life-threatening. But they can cause emotional stress and their treatment can be very uncomfortable. Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die from this disease in the U.S. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have visible genital warts at any point in time.
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What Are Hpv Vaccines
HPV vaccines protect against infection with human papillomaviruses . HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, of which more than 40 are spread through direct sexual contact. Among these, two HPV types cause genital warts, and about a dozen HPV types can cause certain types of cancercervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal.
Three vaccines that prevent infection with disease-causing HPV have been licensed in the United States: Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix. Gardasil 9 has, since 2016, been the only HPV vaccine used in the United States. It prevents infection with the following nine HPV types:
- HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts
- HPV types 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause about 70% of cervical cancers and an even higher percentage of some of the other HPV-caused cancers
- HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, high-risk HPVs that account for an additional 10% to 20% of cervical cancers
Cervarix prevents infection with types 16 and 18, and Gardasil prevents infection with types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Both vaccines are still used in some other countries.
How Much Does The Hpv Vaccine Cost
Each dose of the vaccine can cost about $250. Luckily, many health insurance companies cover the HPV vaccine. There are also programs that help some people without insurance get the vaccine for low or no cost.
You deserve to be healthy, regardless of whether you have health insurance. Talk with the staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center or another nurse or doctor to get more information about ways to make the vaccine more affordable.
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How Do Hpv Vaccines Work
Like other immunizations that guard against viral infection, HPV vaccines stimulate the body to produce antibodies that, in future encounters with HPV, bind to the virus and prevent it from infecting cells.
The current HPV vaccines are based on virus-like particles that are formed by HPV surface components. VLPs are not infectious because they lack the viruss DNA. However, they closely resemble the natural virus, and antibodies against the VLPs also have activity against the natural virus. The VLPs have been found to be strongly immunogenic, which means that they induce high levels of antibody production by the body. This makes the vaccines highly effective.
The vaccines do not prevent other sexually transmitted diseases, nor do they treat existing HPV infections or HPV-caused disease.
How Long Does It Take To Work
Typically, your body starts building up an immunity about 2 weeks after you get a vaccine. Therefore, Gardasil 9 will start working in your body within a couple weeks of getting the vaccine. In clinical studies, people who received Gardasil 9 had evidence of immune system cells that fight HPV by 1 month after their last dose.
Its important to complete the vaccine series of two to three doses. Although the vaccine starts to build immunity in your body after one dose, the second doses build up your immunity even more. Youll be the most protected by getting the two-dose or three-dose series thats recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
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Vaccine Effective For Older Women And Young Men: Studies
HPV infection typically occurs within a few years after a person becomes sexually active, so the vaccine is recommended at a young age. Gardasil is currently approved for girls and young women aged 9 to 26 years. Recent studies, however, indicate that the vaccine is also effective for older women and young men. As reported in the June 1, 2009 advance online edition of The Lancet, Nubia Muñoz from the National Institute of Cancer in Bogota, Columbia, and colleagues reported that the quadrivalent HPV vaccine is efficacious in women aged 24-45 years not infected with the relevant HPV types at enrolment. In men, anal-genital HPV infection can lead to genital warts and penile, perineal, perianal and anal neoplasia and cancer. In addition, male HPV infection contributes significantly to infection and subsequent cervical disease in women. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine is efficacious in reducing the burden of HPV 6/11/16/18-related external genital lesions and infection in young men aged 16-26 years naive to the relevant HPV type at baseline.
Studies Show HPV Vaccine Is Effective for Older Women and Young available from Men
Where Can I Find These Vaccines

HPV vaccine may be available at private doctor offices, community health clinics, school-based health centers, and health departments.
If your doctor does not stock HPV vaccine, ask for a referral. If you dont have a regular source of health care, federally funded health centers can provide services. Locate one near you.external icon
You can also contact your state health department to learn more about where to get HPV vaccine in your community.
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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.
Can Adults Get The Hpv Vaccine Here’s What To Knowand How To Decide If It’s Right For You
The vaccine is recommended for everyone up to 26 years oldbut what if you’ve aged out of that range?
The human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . While most cases will resolve on their own without causing health problems, others can linger, resulting in conditions like genital warts or certain types of cancerprimarily cervical cancer and anal cancer.
The good news: There’s a highly effective vaccine to prevent HPVand thus, the cancers associated with it. A new study published in the journal The Lancet in November 2021 proves as much: Researchers in the UK found that the first-generation HPV vaccine led to a “substantial reduction” in cervical cancer rates as well as incidences of precancerous findings, when given to girls and young women, specifically 1213 year olds. According to study authors, “the HPV has successfully almost eliminated cervical cancer in women born since 1, 1995.”
These findings are a big deal, and they may leave many adults wondering about their own vaccination statusnamely, if they never received the HPV vaccine as a child, are they still eligible to get vaccinated now? And would the vaccine provide any real protection? Here, we break down the current HPV recommendations, and what experts say about getting the HPV vaccine as an adult.
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What If You Aren’t Sure If You Got The Hpv Vaccine
Those who started, but never finished the HPV vaccine series when they were younger should see their doctor for their last shots. “If you’re not sure how many doses of the HPV vaccine you’ve received, it’s better to err on the side of getting an extra dose,” Dr. White says.
You also don’t have to worry about the timing herewhile it’s best to get the shots at the recommended intervals, you won’t need to start the immunization process over again. “Even if the doses are off schedule, you can just finish the recommended number of doses. The series does not need to be restarted,” says Dr. Perkins.
For those who don’t remember whether or not they got the HPV vaccine as a child, the first step is to try and access your old medical records. If you can’t do that for whatever reason, Dr. White recommends re-starting the series. Even if you received an older version of the HPV vaccine while you were younger, it is safe to get the newer vaccine at a later date, Dr. Perkins says.
Vaccine Promising In Mice
According to researchers the new HPV vaccine might cover all types of HPV and be given as a nasal spray. Researchers say they have created a synthetic vaccine that can be delivered as a nasal spray for HPV – source of the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of cervical cancer. The experimental vaccine, tested so far just with mice, also offers protection against different strains of HPV. The existing vaccine for HPV, called Gardasil, protects against four strains of the virus responsible for about 70% of all cervical cancers. It requires three injections for full protection. The advantages of the synthetic vaccine are that it can be synthesized as if it were a drug and, made chemically in the lab rather than having to use biological systems. A synthetic vaccine should also be cheaper. Using this approach, the vaccine could also be given nasally. In their experiments, Roden and his colleagues used a protein from one of the strains of HPV – HPV16 – to create a man-made vaccine in the laboratory. When the vaccine was given to mice by injection or as nasal spray, it protected not only against HPV16, but also against another strain of the virus -HPV45.
Steven Reinberg New HPV Vaccine Promising in Mice. It might cover all types of HPV and be given as a nasal spray, researchers say, posted 4/15/08 health day available onfile:///E:/New%20HPV%20Vaccine%20Promising%20in%20Mice.htm
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Who Should Not Get Hpv Vaccine
Tell your doctor about any severe allergies. Some people should not get some HPV vaccines, including:
- People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any ingredient of an HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of HPV vaccine.
- People who have an allergy to yeast .
- People who are pregnant.
HPV vaccines are safe for children who are mildly ill for example, with a low-grade fever of less than 101 degrees, a cold, runny nose, or cough. People with a moderate or severe illness should wait until they are better.
How Do I Pay For These Vaccines
The Vaccines for Children program helps families of eligible children who might not otherwise have access to vaccines. The program provides vaccines at no cost to children ages 18 years and younger who are uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or American Indian/Alaska Native. To learn more, see VFC program.
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New Hpv Vaccine Under Study
A new vaccine against nine of the most harmful strains of human papillomavirus is under study at the Medical College of Georgia. The vaccine, called nine-valent, is being compared with Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine already in the market that works against the two most deadly HPV types. Gardasil, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006, protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of HPV-related cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, which cause about 90% of genital wart cases. The new drug could prevent infection from those four types and five other cancer-causing types. Like Gardasil, the new vaccine contains proteins that form virus-like particles that assemble into a hollow sphere resembling HPV’s protective coating. Since the sphere lacks the actual viral DNA on the inside, it cannot cause HPV, but the body is tricked into making antibodies to protect against the real thing.
ScienceDaily A new vaccine against nine of the most harmful strains of human papillomavirus is under study at the Medical College of Georgia. file:///E:/New%20HPV%20Vaccine%20Under%20Study.htm
What Are The Side Effects Of The Hpv Vaccine

Side effects that people get from the HPV vaccine usually are minor. They may include swelling or pain at the injection site, or feeling faint after getting the vaccine. As with other vaccines, there is a rare chance of an allergic reaction.
A few people have reported health problems after getting the shot. The FDA is monitoring the vaccine closely to make sure these are not caused by the vaccine itself.
Most people have no trouble with the vaccine. You can make fainting less likely by sitting down for 15 minutes after each shot.
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Are Hpv Vaccines Safe
Yes. More than 12 years of safety monitoring show that the vaccines have caused no serious side effects. The most common problems have been brief soreness and other local symptoms at the injection site. These problems are similar to those commonly experienced with other vaccines.
The FDA and the CDC conducted a safety review of adverse side effect s related to Gardasil immunization that have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System since the vaccine was licensed . The rates of adverse side effects were consistent with what was seen in safety studies carried out before the vaccine was approved and were similar to those seen with other vaccines. The most recent safety data review for HPV vaccines continues to indicate that these vaccines are safe .
Syncope is sometimes observed with Gardasil, as with other vaccines. Falls after fainting may sometimes cause serious injuries, such as head injuries. These can largely be prevented by keeping the person seated for up to 15 minutes after vaccination. The FDA and CDC have reminded health care providers that, to prevent falls and injuries, all vaccine recipients should remain seated or lying down and be closely observed for 15 minutes after vaccination. More information is available from the CDC on its Human Papillomavirus Vaccine page.