Kentucky Medical Association

Cancer Committee

The Cervical Cancer Vaccine- Gardasil ® : What you need to know:

Why is it important?

Cervical cancer is caused by the most commonly sexually transmitted infection: Genital Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

  • HPV also causes less common cancers in both men and women such as anal, penile and some oropharyngeal cancers
  • HPV also causes genital warts and warts in the upper respiratory tract

All women are at risk of HPV

  • HPV is transmitted via skin to skin contact and transmission is possible without vaginal penile penetration or intercourse
  • Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and will go away on their own but persistent infection with high risk types (16 & 18) can cause cervical cancer

Even virginal patients are at risk of acquiring HPV from their partners

  • 40% of virgins are HPV positive within 2 years of first intercourse
  • By age 50, 80% of women have become HPV positive
  • Because there is no treatment for HPV a prophylactic vaccine is the best option for decreasing the burden of disease

Why get vaccinated?

The HPV vaccine can prevent most genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer

  • The HPV vaccine is an inactivated vaccine that protects against 4 types of HPV
  • Types 16 & 18: cause about 70% of cervical cancers
  • Types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts


Who should you get the HPV vaccine and when?

  • Routinely girls 11-12 years of age
  • May be given to girls as young as 9 years

Why is HPV vaccine given to girls at this age?

  • It is best to give the vaccine before their first sexual contact and exposure to HPV
  • In this population the vaccine can prevent almost 100% of disease caused by the 4 types of HPV targeted by the vaccine
  • Catch-Up
  • The vaccine is also recommenced for girls and women 13-26 years of age who did not receive the vaccine when they were younger
  • There is no need to test for HPV, pregnancy, or pap test before the vaccine

How is the vaccine given?

  • As a 3-dose series at 0, 2 and 6 months

What are the risks from the HPV vaccine?

  • There no serious side effects
  • Like all vaccines a vaccine recipient may experience:
    • Pain at the injection site
    • Redness/ swelling at the injection site
    • Fever
    • Itching at the injection site

For more information contact the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at 1-800-232-4636 or visit their website.