Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?
Posted on 04/16/2019
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Important Health Tips From Your OBGYN in Bucks County

At Doylestown Women’s Health Center, we are dedicated to providing our patients with exceptional care to help them live a healthy life for years to come. Unfortunately, cervical cancer is very common in females. It is for this reason that we provide the HPV vaccination for those in Doylestown, PA. Keep reading to learn who makes the ideal candidate for vaccination, HPV vaccination pros and cons and health tips from your OBGYN in Bucks County.

HPV Vaccination Pros & Cons

HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It is one of the most common STIs (sexually transmitted infections) in both females and males. Most of the time, HPV infections usually go away on their own without causing health problems. Many people don’t realize they even have HPV. However, in other cases, HPV can lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and throat. This is why getting the HPV vaccination is important. Some HPV vaccination pros and cons include:

Pros:

  • Protects against HPV types 16 and 18, both high-risk infections known to cause cancer
  • Protects against strains known to cause genital warts

Cons:

  • Does not protect against all types of HPV-related cancers
  • May rarely cause mild to moderate side-effects including:
    • headache
    • slight fever
    • pain or swelling at the injection site
    • muscle or joint pain
    • fatigue
    • fainting
    • nausea
    • vomiting
    • diarrhea
    • abdominal pain

Who Should Receive the Gardasil Vaccination?

Who should receive the Gardasil vaccination? In order to be effective, the vaccine must be received before an individual is exposed to the HPV virus. The American Cancer Society recommends that boys and girls start the vaccine series between ages 11 and 12, for optimal protection. However, HPV vaccination can begin as early as age 9. The immune response is better at these ages than during the teenage years, however, those between the ages of 13-26 can still receive the Gardasil vaccination.

Contact Your OBGYN in Bucks County Today

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Protect yourself with Bucks County cervical cancer immunization. Your dedicated team here at Doylestown Women’s Health Center is pleased to offer Gardasil vaccination to reduce your risk of HPV-related cancers. If you have any questions or would like to know more about Bucks County cervical cancer immunization, please reach out to us by calling (215) 340-2229 or at our contact page. We look forward to seeing you soon!