Duke Medicine: Should your adolescent get the HPV vaccine? Common questions answered

Ever since the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine was added to the immunization schedule for girls, and more recently for boys, parents have been questioning why their young children need a vaccine against cervical cancer and whether the vaccine is safe.

HPV actually comprises more than 100 viruses that cause a variety of skin disorders and several different types of cancer in the genital region. It is the main cause of cervical cancer in women, and genital warts in men and women. The virus is easily transmitted via sexual or skin-to-skin contact. It is possible to have HPV and not know it.

There are two approved vaccines – Gardasil and Cervarix – and both offer protection from two types of HPV that cause the majority of cervical cancer. However, Gardasil protects against HPV types that cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Cervarix is only approved for use in girls.

It is recommended that boys receive the vaccine to decrease the risk of genital warts and certain genital cancers. Vaccination also helps reduce the incidence of HPV in males. That, in turn, diminishes the spread of the virus to women via sexual contact.

Both boys and girls are typically advised to begin the vaccine series at their 11- or 12-year old physical exam. Catch up vaccination is offered in both boys and girls until age 26. It is given in a series of three doses over a 6-month period.