HPV Toolkit: Finding Answers
HPV Fact Zone
- Is the vaccine safe?
- How much will the HPV vaccine cost me?
- What does a positive HPV test mean?
- What if I've already tested positive for HPV? Should I still get the vaccine?
- What if I've already had genital warts?
- What about my boyfriend - what can be done about HPV for guys?
- If I have HPV or had HPV, should I tell my partner?
Is the vaccine safe?
Adverse reactions that occur after a vaccine is given, if reported, are collected in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This program is monitored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Physicians and patients are encouraged to report side effects that could be related to vaccine administration. The program monitors frequencies of certain side effects and determines if any investigation needs to be done to clarify whether the vaccine causes a particular side effect. When a certain number of adverse events have been reported, it does not mean that the vaccine caused the adverse events. That information could only be verified with more research. Just because something happens after a vaccine, that does not mean that it is proof that the vaccine caused it.
To date, only 6% of the reports on Gardasil have been for serious side effects. To keep this in perspective, however, the overall rate of serious side effects for all vaccines is between 10-15%, so 6% is a relatively low number.
What are some of the possible expected side effects?
- Redness, swelling at the injection site
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fever
- Joint/muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Physical weakness
- General malaise
Also see the following articles:
- Doctors Come Out in Support of Cervical Cancer Vaccine (ABC News) which explains MD support for the vaccine and clarify some of the negative media reports.
- Information from the CDC and FDA on The Safety of Gardasil Vaccine.
- Reports of Health Concerns Following HPV Vaccination
How much will the HPV vaccine cost me?
The HPV vaccine is currently given in three shots that cost $120 each. Check with your private insurance or TennCare representative to see if they cover the vaccine. Another good place to check is your local health department. They often give vaccines free or at reduced rates based on income. It is likely that the cost will come down once a competitive product is on the market (it looks like this will be soon). If you are concerned about the price and you don’t qualify for price reductions, you may want to wait a little longer until your insurance covers the vaccine or the price comes down due to competition.
Links to Vaccine Resources
- How can I get help paying for vaccines?
- Health Plan Coverage for Gardasil
- Assistance Programs that help cover Gardasil
What does a positive HPV test mean?
- What Women with a Positive HPV Test Result Should Know
- Common Questions about HPV and Cervical Cancer (For Women Who Have HPV)
What if I've already tested positive for HPV? Should I still get the vaccine?
Yes. Even if you have been exposed to HPV, you may still benefit from the vaccine. This is because the vaccine protects against four strains of HPV and you may not have been exposed to all of them. The vaccine may still be able to offer you some protection from HPV even if you contracted one or more strains from previous sexual encounters.
What if I've already had genital warts?
Genital warts are usually caused by HPV type 6 or 11. If you have had genital warts, you have probably been exposed to HPV-6, HPV-11 or both. However, the vaccine also protects against HPV-16 and HPV-18, which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. It is still advisable for you to get the vaccine to prevent future infection from these two strains of HPV.
What about my boyfriend – what can be done about HPV for guys?
HPV usually does not cause significant negative side effects in men other than genital warts. Most of the time, a man's immune system will clear the virus without treatment and often without any symptoms that would even suggest that he had HPV. In rare cases, HPV can lead to penile and rectal cancers in men; however, there is not currently a testing system in place to routinely test for HPV in males. New links are being found between HPV and diseases like head and neck cancer and lung cancer. Because these affect both men and women, it is likely that there will be better testing for HPV in men in the future. Research is currently being conducted in the attempt to gain approval to extend the HPV vaccine to boys as well as girls. (See the For the Guys section)