HPV Facts for Parents

Yes. All government-approved HPV vaccines have been extensively and independently evaluated. All scientific evidence shows that these HPV vaccines are extremely safe. The World Health Organization (WHO) and virtually all countries in the world now recommend HPV vaccination. With hundreds of millions of doses distributed, no significant side effects have been identified other than the temporary reaction at the injection site.

Yes—regardless of sex or gender we are all at risk for HPV- it’s sexually transmitted. HPV can cause genital warts as well as cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and mouth/throat. HPV is also easily passed to sexual partners. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect your children from genital warts and HPV-related cancers.  Vaccination is most effective when given prior to initiation of sexual activity. If you can, get your child vaccinated! 

Yes—regardless of sex or gender we are all at risk for HPV- it’s sexually transmitted. HPV can cause genital warts as well as cancers of the anus, penis and mouth/throat. HPV is also easily passed to sexual partners. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect your children from genital warts and HPV-related cancers.  Vaccination is most effective when given prior to initiation of sexual activity.  If you can, get your child vaccinated!

Most countries have guidelines on cervical cancer screening and these guidelines should be followed. Vaccinated girls are at much lower risk of cervical pre-cancers or cancers than un-vaccinated girls.

Vaccinating your daughter could reduce the number of screenings and potential surgical treatments your daughter and any young women you care about might need. However, even if your daughter has been vaccinated, she will still need to have cervical screening, following the cervical cancer screening policies in your location.

The risk of HPV-related cancers is very low under the age of 30 years. At this time, there are no routine screening programs for five of the six cancers caused by HPV. Having a thorough inspection of the mouth/throat by a dental professional can help to detect oral/throat cancer or pre-cancer. In addition, in certain locations, there are providers who screen for anal cancer and precancer. Check with your health care provider to see if there are any anal cancer or precancer screening programs in your area. A partial list is available here.

HPV is not easily spread from mother to infants. On rare occasions, babies born to mothers who have genital warts at the time of delivery may pick up the virus while they are passing through the birth canal. The babies may later develop warts in the larynx that may require surgical treatment. Vaccinating against the HPV types that cause genital warts dramatically reduces the risk of mothers passing HPV to their babies.