Q&A: Does the HPV vaccine protect against cancers and genital warts? – Medical Xpress

This article has been reviewed according to ScienceX's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

proofread

close

Every year in the U.S., human papillomavirus (HPV) causes about 37,000 new cases of cancer. These are cancers that could have been prevented with the HPV vaccine.

Unfortunately, only 38.6% of children ages 9 to 17 had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine in 2022, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

UC Davis Health checked in with Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Children's Hospital, to learn more. He answers some frequently asked questions about HPV, the HPV vaccine and what families need to know to protect their children from HPV-associated cancers through adulthood.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. It is spread through genital contact and can cause cancers.

People with HPV can be symptom-free, but they can still be infectious with no visible signs or symptoms. HPV causes a lot of different kinds of cancers in males and femalesincluding cervical cancers and other cancers. These include cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis or anus. HPV can also cause cancer in the throat, tongue and the tonsils.

Genital warts can also result from different types of HPV. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a small cauliflower. A health care provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.

Get vaccinated. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccination for all preteens (boys and girls) at age 11 or 12. Making sure preteens and teens receive their HPV vaccine now will protect them from these cancers when they are adults. It is a two-dose vaccine series for those ages 9-14. Older people can also get the vaccineup to age 45. For those who start the vaccine at age 15 to 45, or for immunocompromised people, it's a three-dose vaccine series.

To reduce the risk of HPV, those who are sexually active can also:

It's been found to have close to 100% efficacy, one month after a person completes the full vaccination series. It prevents future HPV infection and prevents the spread of HPV as well. I let patients know that this is a powerful cancer prevention tool.

The common side effects are pain, redness or swelling in the arm where the shot was given, fever, headache, muscle ache, nausea or dizziness. These side effects should improve within a day.

The vaccine provides a lifetime of protection. There is no need to get a booster for this.

But timing is important. The vaccine does not work to protect against HPV-associated cancers if someone already has HPV. It has to be administered before HPV exposure and infection. The vaccine is offered to preteens so the vaccine can provide that lasting protection into adulthood.

The rest is here:

Q&A: Does the HPV vaccine protect against cancers and genital warts? - Medical Xpress