HPV Vaccination

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is a virus with many subtypes. Some of these types do not cause any harm, but others can cause cervical cancer or genital warts.

We recommend HPV Vaccination for all of our patients. This vaccine, which consists of 3 injections over a 6 month period, protects against 4 different types of HPV:

Type 16 and 18, which are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers, and Type 6 and 11, which are responsible for approximately 90% of genital warts.

This vaccination, with the trade name of Gardasil, works best in someone who is young and has not had any sexual contacts. It is currently approved for girls and boys age 9 through 26 years.

The side effects include pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting. It should not be given to anyone severely allergic to yeast or pregnant women.

It will not treat current infection with HPV.

For more information, please visit: http://www.gardasil.com/

See videos about Gardasil here: https://www.merckvaccines.com/Products/Gardasil/Pages/hpv-in-practice-video-series

Written by Hope Bouldin-Currier, CNM