Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

It’s a simple vaccine that goes a long way toward preventing cancer.

Did you know that 80 percent of Americans will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost every sexually active person will get HPV at some point if they are not vaccinated. HPV can lead to certain cancers.

You may be wondering who should get the HPV vaccine or if your daughter is old enough—or too old—to benefit. We have the answers for you, including vital information on the safety of the HPV vaccine, the dosage schedule and how long the HPV vaccination lasts.

When Should My Child Get the HPV Vaccine?

The first dose of the HPV vaccine should be given when your child is 11 to 12 years old. The second dose should be given six to 12 months after the first dose.

While you can get them vaccinated when they’re older, they may need three doses instead of two.

For example, if your child had the vaccine when they were 15 or older, they’ll need three shots that will be given over six months.

Why Should My Daughter Get the Vaccine So Early?

We believe it’s better to get an HPV vaccine such as Gardasil earlier rather than later because this will protect your child before they are exposed to the virus.

What If My Teen Hasn’t Gotten the Vaccination Yet?

We’ll be happy to help. Contact us so we can get it scheduled as soon as possible.

When Is It Too Late to Get the Vaccination?

We recommend getting the vaccine no later than when you’re 26 years old.

Is the HPV Vaccine Safe?

More than 12 years of research went into creating the HPV vaccine, and it’s been closely monitored for more than a decade. All studies show that it is both safe and effective.

Public health researchers are also continually monitoring the HPV vaccination to ensure that it continues to remain safe.

Are There Any HPV Vaccination Side Effects?

While the HPV vaccination is safe, there may be some very mild side effects.

These can include:

Redness or swelling where the shot was given
Nausea
Headache
Dizziness
Fainting

We firmly believe that the benefits offered by the HPV vaccine outweigh the risk of any potential side effects.

How Long Does the HPV Vaccination Last?

One of the benefits of HPV vaccination is that it remains effective over a long period of time. Studies have indicated that after 10 years there’s no evidence that the protection has weakened.

The Vaccine Doesn’t Protect You Against Everything

Remember that while the vaccine is very effective at protecting you from certain types of HPV, it won’t prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like herpes or HIV. We encourage you to use condoms and get regular testing for STIs.

While the vaccine does protect against most forms of HPV, there are still a few cancer-causing strains that it does not. This is why we encourage you to have a regular appointment where we can conduct a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer.

Facts You May Not Know About HPV

The vaccine has been instrumental in reducing the number of HPV infections and cervical cancers.

In fact, since the vaccine has been created, the HPV types that cause cancers and genital warts have reduced 86 percent among teen girls, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control.

Vaccinated women also saw a 40 percent reduction in the number of cervical precancers.

Annually, HPV causes 35,000 cases of cancer in both men and women. Vaccination could prevent more than 32,000 of these cancers.

We Provide the Care You Need for a Lifetime of Wellness

We’re more than happy to provide an HPV vaccination for you or your daughter.

But we don’t want your care to stop there.

Everything we do is centered on your complete wellness. This means we’re concerned about much more than your gynecological health. We want to be proactive and help you treat chronic diseases before they become something more serious.

That’s one reason why we offer convenient 3D mammography that you can schedule at the same time as your yearly appointment.

Let us be partners in your care and provide the world-class service you deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.