HPV vaccine
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 12 to 13 years helps protect against cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccine is designed to protect against the two types of HPV that can cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. As it does not protect against all other types, regular cervical screening is important.
This combination of immunisation and cervical screening offers the best possible protection against cervical cancer.
Questions and answers:
- What is HPV and how does it spread?
- What is cervical cancer?
- How will I have the immunisation?
- Does the immunisation protect me from other sexually transmitted diseases or stop me getting pregnant?
- Are there any side effects?
- I missed my immunisation, can I still have it?
- Can my older sister have the immunisation?
- Now I’ve had the immunisation, will I still need to go for a cervical screening test?
- Should girls who have already had sex bother with the immunisation?
- Why aren’t boys being given the HPV immunisation?
What is HPV and how does it spread?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. It is very common and you catch it through intimate sexual contact with another person who already has it. Because it is so common, most people will become infected at some point in their lifetime. In most women the virus does not cause cervical cancer, but having the vaccine is important because we do not know who is at risk.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer develops in the cervix (the entrance to the womb). It is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus or HPV.
Cervical cancer can be very serious. After breast cancer, it is the most common women’s cancer in the world. In the UK, around 3,000 cases of it are diagnosed every year and about 1,000 women die from it.
How will I get vaccinated?
You will need three injections over about six months to get the best protection. It’s important that you have all three doses. Your school nurse will give you the injections in your upper arm.
Your school or the NHS in your area will contact you when it is time for your immunisation.
Does the immunisation protect me from other sexually transmitted infections or stop me getting pregnant?
Having the vaccine won’t protect you against any other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and it won’t stop you getting pregnant.
Are there any side effects?
Like most injections, the side effects of the HPV immunisation are quite mild. You might find your arm stinging and is sore, which is quite common. This will wear off in a couple of days. More serious side effects are extremely rare and the nurses know how to deal with them. The vaccine meets the rigorous safety standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries.
Millions of doses of vaccine have already been given to girls in the UK.
Read more about the common side effects of immunisations that might occur in teenagers.
I missed my immunisation, can I still have it?
Yes. If you missed any of your vaccinations, for whatever reason, you should speak to your school nurse or doctor about making another appointment. It’s best to make your appointment as soon as possible after your original one. The most important thing is to have all three doses – it’s never too late to catch up.
Can my older sister have the immunisation?
Young women born after 1 September 1990 in Scotland were invited to receive the HPV vaccine through a one-off, three-year immunisation programme for older girls will finish on 31 August 2011. If your sister is older than 12 or 13 but has only had one immunisation by 31 August, she should still have the two other immunisations. Your sister should fill in this form to check if she should have the immunisation (external link).
Now I’ve had the immunisation, will I still need to go for a cervical screening test?
Yes. Women in Scotland should start going for regular cervical screening when they are 20 years old. The HPV vaccine protects against the two types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer (over 70%), so you still have to be screened to try to pick up cervical abnormalities caused by other HPV types that could lead to cancer.
Please don’t forget that your regular cervical screening tests are essential whether you have had the HPV immunisation or not.
- You can download The Cervical Screening Test: Your first test to find out more about what to expect.
Should girls who have already had sex bother with the vaccination?
Definitely. If you’ve had sex, and are in the relevant age group, you should still have the vaccine.
Why aren't boys being given the HPV immunisation?
The priority is to directly protect girls against cervical cancer. By protecting all girls against the two most common causes of cervical cancer, eventually the level of protection will be raised because there will be fewer viruses circulating. This is called ‘herd immunity’.