Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

The human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine is extremely effective at preventing infection from high-risk HPV strains known to cause genital warts and several types of cancers in men and women.

The vaccine works best when children receive it between the ages of 9 and 12 — preventing more than 90% of HPV-related cancers as they get older. However, adults up to age 45 can also receive the vaccine.

What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It’s very common in the United States. In fact, four out of five people are infected with HPV at some point in their lives. It spreads through vaginal, oral or anal sex. HPV can also spread during skin-to-skin contact during sex.

The virus itself contains more than 200 related viruses — some of which are linked to genital warts and certain cancers.

HPV Signs and Symptoms

Many people never experience any signs or symptoms from HPV. This is especially true when the infection clears from the body on its own. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear right away.

In some cases, HPV can cause genital warts in men and women, which look like fleshy colored bumps in the genital area. They can be large or small and have different textures, such as flat or raised.

It’s rare, but HPV can also cause warts to grow in the respiratory tract. You may experience a hoarse voice, trouble breathing or have a chronic cough.

HPV Test for Women

HPV in women can be detected during a cervical cancer screening performed by a doctor. This is called a Pap smear (or Pap test). The test looks for abnormal cells or any changes in the cervix that increase your risk for cervical cancer. During a Pap smear, an HPV test detects if HPV is present.

Pap tests are extremely effective and have significantly reduced cervical cancer diagnoses in the United States.

Women should receive regular Pap smears at the following times:

  • Starting at 21 years old.
  • Screening is then recommended every three years until age 29.
  • Women between 30 - 65 years old should have HPV testing and a Pap test once every 5 years.

If you have an abnormal Pap smear, these screening guidelines may change. Discuss what’s recommended for you with your doctor.

HPV Self-Collection Test

A new HPV self-sampling test was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May 2024 for women ages 25 and up. The test screens for up to 14 types of high-risk HPV strains that can lead to cervical cancer.

HPV Self-Collection Instructions

Individuals are given a Q-tip to insert and swab the vagina. Similar to urine samples, the swab is placed behind a collection door in the clinic bathroom and recovered for analysis at a lab.

If the sample comes back normal, it’s recommended to screen again for HPV in five years. If it’s abnormal, your doctor will discuss next steps with you.

HPV tests with self-collection gives patients in rural communities, or those uncomfortable having a full pelvic exam, access to life-saving screenings.

Kits should be available at local health clinics or in primary care offices. Check with your OBGYN provider as well.

While the majority of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, two to five percent are not. That’s why the combination of a pelvic exam and traditional Pap smear is still considered the gold standard. In a pelvic exam, providers examine the vulva, vagina, cervix, ovaries and uterus. Additionally, some studies show higher false positive rates with self-collection — which could mean follow-up tests, including a pelvic exam.

HPV self-collection, however, has the potential to make screening more accessible and available to patients. People who may otherwise decline a traditional pelvic exam and pap screening may be open to a self-collection option, making it an acceptable alternative for cervical cancer screening.

HPV Test for Men

HPV testing is not as standardized for men as it is for women. Currently, there’s no HPV test for men approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) . This is because HPV-related cancers are less common in men. However, there are tests available that involve collecting samples from the penis or anus.

HPV Vaccine

Ages 9-14

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following HPV vaccine schedule for children:

  • Kids between the ages of 9-14 should get the HPV vaccine.
  • The vaccine is given to patients ages 14 and under in a two-dose series. After the first dose is given, it’s followed by a second dose 6-12 months later.

Ages 15-45

Men and women can receive the HPV vaccine until age 45. The HPV vaccine schedule for patients between the ages of 15 and 45, as well as immunocompromised patients, is slightly different.

  • A three-dose series is given. After the first dose, the second dose is given two months later, and the third dose six months later.

While the vaccine is most effective before you’re sexually active and exposed to HPV, it can still reduce the risk of contracting HPV for people who are already sexually active.

If you have HPV but aren’t vaccinated, you can still receive the vaccine to prevent a new infection from happening in the future.

Is the HPV Vaccine Safe and Effective?

Yes. The HPV vaccine has undergone rigorous safety testing and is extremely effective. To date, more than 100 studies in millions of people all over the world show the HPV vaccine is safe.

CDC data also shows:

  • HPV infections that cause most HPV-related cancers and genital warts are down 88% in teen girls.
  • In young women, HPV-related cancers and genital warts dropped 81%.
  • In vaccinated women, precancers in the cervix caused by HPV dropped by 40%.

As with any vaccine, the most common side effects include:

Which HPV Strains Can Cause Cancer?

The HPV vaccine provides protection against strains that commonly lead to cancer. This includes strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.

The strain HPV-16 causes a major portion of cervical cancer diagnoses. HPV-18 is also highly associated with cervical cancer as well as vaginal and anal cancer. Additional HPV-related cancers include penile, vulvar and certain throat cancers.

While these strains are considered high-risk, it’s important to note they don’t always lead to cancer. However, if your immune system can’t clear these HPV strains, your risk of developing cancer increases over time.

Is HPV Curable?

There isn’t a cure for HPV, but the infection can be managed by a doctor and is preventable. Typically, your immune system will clear the virus on its own. However, some HPV strains stay in the body and can lead to genital warts and certain types of cancers.

Talk to Your Doctor about How to Get the HPV Vaccine Near You

The HPV vaccine is easily accessible. When your child is old enough, your doctor will offer the first dose of the HPV vaccine during one of their regularly scheduled check-ups, sports physicals or when they come in for their flu shot.

If you have questions about the HPV vaccine for you or your child, your care team can help you.