HPV Basic Information
There are approximately 40 types of genital HPV. Somes types can cause cervical cancer in women and can also cause other kinds of cancer in both men and women. Other types can cause genital warts in both males and females. The HPV vaccine works by preventing the most common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It is given as a 3-dose vaccine.
Side Effects
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 8 people in 10)
Redness or swelling at the injection site (about 1 person in 4)
Mild fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit) (about 1 person in 10)
Itching at the injection site (about 1 person in 30)
Moderate fever (102 degrees Fahrenheit) (about 1 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.
Like all vaccines, HPV vaccine will continue to be monitored for unusual or severe problems.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
Some girls or women should not get H.P.V. vaccine or should wait.
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 HPV vaccine when pregnant is not a reason to consider terminating the pregnancy. Women who are breast feeding may safely get the vaccine.
Any woman who learns that she was pregnant when she got HPV vaccine is encouraged to call the HPV vaccine in pregnancy registry at 800-986-8999. Information from this registry will help us learn how pregnant women respond to the vaccine.
People who are mildly ill when the shot is scheduled can still get HPV vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should wait until they recover.
