About HPV and the HPV Vaccine

For Patients | For Parents | HPV Vaccine Legislation Update

The Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). In women, this skin virus can cause genital warts (inside or outside the vagina or around the rectum) or it can cause changes in the cells on the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. In men, this skin virus can cause warts on the penis, scrotum, or skin around the rectum. MOST people who have this virus never know they have it because they do not develop warts or have abnormal Pap test results.

HPV is passed through sexual contact with a person who has the virus on their skin. The sexual contact may be intercourse (vaginal or anal) or may be intimate skin to skin contact. It is rarely passed through oral sex.

You can protect yourself from HPV by avoiding all intimate skin-to-skin contact with an infected partner. Since it is hard to know if someone has the virus and since avoiding all skin-to-skin contact may not seem like a reasonable choice, the next best option is to use a condom for intercourse. However, condoms do not cover all areas where HPV can be present and therefore will not protect you 100% from the virus. Talking with your partner about his or her health is also important.

The FDA recently approved Gardasil, the first HPV Vaccine. This vaccine guards against four types of HPV. Two of these strains cause 70% of cervical cancers; the other two cause 90% of genital warts. (Gardasil is a vaccine, not a treatment, and it will not "cure" cervical cancer or eliminate the need for Pap tests.)

The information below is intended to help you learn more about HPV and Gardasil. If you have any bumps or changes on your skin that you are concerned about, or if you are interested in getting vaccinated, contact the Planned Parenthood Health Center nearest you at 1-800-230-PLAN.
 

For Patients Click here for PPNNE's Patient Fact Sheet on HPV.  Click here for PPNNE's Patient Fact Sheet on the HPV Vaccine.  Click here for the CDC's Patient Fact Sheet on the HPV Vaccine.

For Parents  Many parents have questions about the HPV Vaccine. Should you take your daughter to get the vaccine? How will it affect her in the future? Does it mean that you're condoning sex? Click here for the answers to these and other questions you may have.  Do you have a question that wasn't answered? E-mail us and we'll add it to our list.

HPV Vaccine Legislation Update

We are acutely aware of how cervical cancer can devastate women’s lives. The development of this vaccine and the possibility that it will end cervical cancer for women is an historic advancement for us and our patients. However, we know that mandating the vaccine has been met with concern. For that reason, we are closely monitoring the progress of bills in the three states we serve; we have not yet taken a position on whether the HPV vaccine should be mandatory. In general, we will only support this type of legislation if 1) there is an opt out provision, 2) there is a strong education component (for public education), and 3) financing the vaccine will not detract from other reproductive health or public health needs.

What's happening in your state?

Maine The Maine Legislature is considering a bill, LD 137 An Act to Enact the Recommendations of the Task Force to Study Cervical Cancer Prevention, Detection and Education, that would provide funding for the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, for MaineCare covered patients and for the Maine Immunization Program which provides free vaccines for low income people. This bill has broad support from both Republicans and Democrats.

New Hampshire There is no legislation in New Hampshire regarding the HPV vaccine.

Vermont Legislators in the Vermont House and Senate have both introduced similar bills regarding HPV vaccination.  If passed, girls entering grade 6 would be required to show evidence of HPV vaccination (with provisions for parents to "opt out" of the vaccine) and appropriate funds to the Vermont Department of Health for purchase of HPV vaccines. While there is strong support for the bills in both the House and Senate, it is unclear if the bills will be taken up this year. Some income-eligible girls are currently able to receive the vaccine at no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program administered by the Vermont Department of Health.