HPV Vaccination For Adults

HPV – human papillomavirus causes genital warts in women and men and cervical cancer in women. You can get this virus through sexual contact with an infected person, including during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.

The type of HPV virus you contract determines how the infection affects your body. During sex, the virus can enter your throat, anus or genitals to cause an infection. Over 40 strains of HPV can be transmitted through sex.

Some strains of HPV cause genital warts, while others make cells cancerous. Cervical cancer from HPV infection is common, but the virus also causes cancer in the head, neck, anus, vagina, penis, and vulva.

HPV causes no symptoms like fever or sore throat, so there is usually no way to know you have an HPV infection, and in many people, the infection self-resolves. Many people have an HPV infection at least once in their lifetime but remain unaware of it until they have an abnormal Pap test result or notice genital warts.

HPV is more common than most people realise but less known than other common STIs like syphilis and herpes. If you are sexually active, there is a chance you have had an HPV infection, which makes immunisation important.

HPV Vaccination can prevent infection from different HPV strains that cause genital warts and most cervical cancer. The vaccine is more effective in childhood or adolescence, but some adults may also benefit from it.

Why adults need the HPV Vaccination?

HPV is quite common, with most sexually active persons getting the virus at one point in their life. Millions of people have HPV but do not know about the infection, and it spreads easily. HPV infection doesn’t show any symptoms but may lead to genital warts and cancer in men and women.

In women, HPV can make the cervical cells grow abnormally. The cervical cell changes from HPV infection will cause cervical cancer for a few women, and cervical cancer is among the leading cause of death in women.

HPV vaccination helps prevent infection from HPV strains that cause most cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine prevents infection from several HPV strains that prevent up to 90% of cervical cancer cases.

The vaccines are effective in preventing all the HPV strains they cover. Getting the HPV vaccine reduces the risk of precancerous growth and cervical cancer in women, and in men, it prevents genital warts, anal and penile cancer, and the spreading of HPV to sex partners.

When do adults need the HPV vaccine?

The right time to get vaccinated against HPV infection is before engaging in sexual activity, so health experts recommend HPV vaccination between 11 and 12 years, but vaccination can start from age 9. People aged 13 or older that haven’t gotten the HPV vaccine can still get it.

Anyone that hasn’t gotten the vaccine can also take it before age 26. People between 27 and 45 that haven’t gotten the vaccine can talk to the doctor about the benefits of HPV vaccination for them.

How many doses will I get?

The recommendation for HPV vaccination between 11 and 12 years is two doses administered 6 – 12 months apart. Only two doses are necessary if you get the doses before age 15. After age 15 and for people with a weak immune system, HPV vaccination requires three doses. The second dose is 1 – 2 months after the first, while the third dose is six months after the first.

Will the HPV vaccine treat an existing HPV infection?

No treatment is available for HPV infection, but you can get treatment for diseases such as genital warts and genital cancers caused by HPV. If you have an HPV infection, the vaccine cannot treat it. However, if the infection is from an HPV strain, getting the vaccine will prevent infection from other strains of HPV.

This makes routine Pap smears and pelvic exams for women important for cervical cancer screening.

Does the HPV vaccine offer lifelong protection?

The HPV vaccine appears to offer long-term protection from HPV, but people who get the vaccine should still visit their gynaecologist for routine Pap tests to check for early signs of cervical cancer. The routine exam is also important because vaccination doesn’t protect from all strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer.

Will insurance cover HPV vaccine costs?

Most health insurance plans cover routine vaccines, so if you are in the recommended age group, your insurance company will cover the cost of HPV vaccine. Ensure you contact your insurance provider to confirm if they cover HPV vaccination.

Is HPV vaccination safe?

HPV vaccines have been available for years, and experts report that the chances of a serious reaction are low. Before vaccines are available to the public, they undergo rigorous testing. The HPV vaccine has undergone testing on thousands of people and has been certified safe before being released.

The HPV vaccine doesn’t contain the preservative called thimerosal or mercury.

Is there a chance that I can get HPV from the HPV vaccine?

No, there isn’t. The part of HPV used in the vaccines is inactive, so the vaccines can’t cause HPV infection.

Are there adults that should not get the HPV vaccine?

Some people should wait before getting the HPV vaccine or shouldn’t get it at all. They include:

• People who experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction to the previous HPV vaccine dose.
• People who experienced a life-threatening reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine.
• People with moderate to severe illnesses but people with mild illnesses can get the vaccine.
• Pregnant women

What are the ingredients in the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine contains no virus but is made from the virus. The active ingredients in the vaccine are proteins similar to the proteins in HPV. Genetically modified bacteria produce the proteins, then they undergo purification and are mixed into a sterile, water-based solution.

What are the side effects and risks of HPV vaccination?

The HPV vaccine is safe. Although some people reported side effects from HPV vaccination, over 90% of the side effects are non-serious. The common side effects of HPV vaccination are minor. Reports show the following.

• About one in 30 people will experience itching at the injection site
• About one in ten people will experience mild fever after getting the injection
• About one in 60 people will have a moderate fever

The symptoms usually subside without treatment. HPV vaccination may also cause these mild-to-moderate side effects.

• Fainting
• Arm pain
• Nausea
• Headache

In rare cases, these severe side effects may occur.

• Seizures
• Blood clots
• Death
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

For more information on the HPV vaccine for adults, including HPV vaccine cost in UK, feel free to call Medical Express Clinic on 020 7499 1991. You can also call us now to book an appointment for your HPV vaccination.