Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Most HPV infections don't cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. More than 50% of sexually active men and woman are infected with HPV at sometime in their lives. Preventing HPV is important because it can cause cervical cancer in women. Every year in the U.S. about 10,000 women get cervical cancer and 3,700 die from it. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancer in both men and women. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for HPV infection, but the conditions it causes can be treated.

HPV can also cause genital warts and warts in the upper respiratory tract. Genital warts are skin-colored growths appearing on the inside and outside of the genital area. The warts may bleed, itch, and cause pain. Although genital warts do not cause cancer, inumerous treatments may be required to eliminate them.

HPV Vaccine

We are fortunate to have a vaccine available for HPV. HPV vaccine is an inactivated (not live) vaccine that protects against four major types of HPV. These include two types that cause about 90% of cervical cancer and two types that cause about 90% of genital warts. HPV vaccine can prevent most genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer.

Protection from HPV vaccine is expected to be long-lasting. However, vaccinated women still need cervical cancer screening  because the vaccine does not protect against all HPV types that cause cervical cancer.

Who Should Get HPV Vaccine and When

HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for girls 11-12 years of age. Doctors may give the vaccine to girls as young as nine years old. It is given as a three-dose series. After the firrst dose, the second dose is given two months later, and the third dose is given six months after the first dose.

The vaccine is recommended for girls between 11-12 years of age to ensure that they receive the vaccine before their first sexual contact because thay have not been exposed to HPV. For these girls, the vaccine can prevent almost 100% of the diseases caused by the four types of HPV targeted by the vaccine. However, if a girl or woman is already infected with a type of HPV, the vaccine will not prevent disease from that type.

A catch-up vaccination is recommended for girls and women 13 to 26 years of age who did not receive it when they were younger.

No booster doses are recommended at this time.

HPV vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Who Should Not Get the Vaccine

Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast, to any other component of HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of HPV vaccine should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if the person getting the vaccine has any severe allergies.

Pregnant women should not get the vaccine. The vaccine appears to be safe for both the mother and the unborn baby, but it is still being studied.  Receiving the HPV vaccine when pregnant is not a reason to consider terminating the pregnancy. Women who are breast feeding may safely receive the vaccine.

People who are mildy ill when the shot is scheduled can still get the HPV vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should wait until they recover.

Risks from HPV Vaccine

HPV vaccine does not appear to cause any serious side effects.

However, a vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of any vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Several mild problems may occur with HPV vaccine:

• Pain at the injection site (about eight people in ten);
• Redness or swelling at the injection site (about one person in four);
• Mild fever (100°F) (about one person in ten);
• Itching at the injection site (about one person in 30);
• Moderate fever (102°F) (about one person in 65).

These symptoms do not last long and go away on their own.

Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it would be within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

The Paul Larson OB/Gyn Clinic provides vaccinations to girls and women between the ages of 11 to 26 years old. To make a vaccination appointment call (952) 285-6140.