HPV vaccine - Information for girls

You will find this text in the form of a leaflet for you to print out and use here:
Leaflet: HPV vaccine – Information for girls (URL: http://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/flyer_hpv_impfung_en.download.f3cdefe24cdaa6ed57bd51aba4673735.pdf) (PDF)

You may have already heard about the vaccines that could protect girls against cervical cancer. Perhaps you are wondering whether to have the vaccine yourself. We have put together information to help you and your parents with this decision.

What is the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine protects against certain viruses belonging to the group of so-called human papillomaviruses (HPV). These viruses are very common and are nearly always harmless. They can be spread through sexual contact. You are almost certain to be exposed to these viruses in the next few years of your life: it is estimated that 80-90% of all sexually active women will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

What does HPV have to do with cancer?

Human papillomaviruses play a critical role in the development of cervical cancer. The cervix is the end or opening of the uterus (womb) high up inside the vagina. Cancer of the cervix is a rare but serious disease.

Two types of HPV – HPV 16 und 18 – are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Other types of HPV can cause genital warts.

What happens if I get an HPV infection?

HPV infections very rarely lead to serious problems: the immune system usually fights and destroys the viruses. 
But sometimes the immune system is not able to destroy the viruses and the infection stays in the skin or membranes. Infected tissue may change over time, eventually leading to the development of pre-cancerous changes.

But it is important to know that pre-cancerous changes only develop into cancer in 12-15% of all women. Surgery is often done to remove the pre-cancerous tissue.

What does the HPV vaccine do?

There are two vaccines in Germany that are used to protect against the main cancer-causing HPV 16 and HPV 18 viruses. One is called “Cervarix” and the other is called “Gardasil” or “Silgard”. Both of them can halve the risk of pre-cancerous changes that are caused by these viruses.

For example, in the Gardasil trials, the risk of pre-cancerous changes was about 2-3% in women between the ages of 15 and 26 who had not been vaccinated. Women who had been vaccinated had a risk of about 1-2%.

It is assumed that the vaccine works better in younger girls who have not been infected with HPV – but researchers disagree about the estimates of possible benefit. It is also not known how long the protective effect lasts and whether women will need a booster vaccine. Further research has to be done to be more certain about all these issues.

“Gardasil” or “Silgard” also protects against types of HPV that can cause genital warts. The trials found that 4% of women who did not have the vaccine had genital warts, compared to only 1% of women who had the vaccine.

What does the vaccine involve and what should I be aware of?

If you choose to have the vaccination, your doctor will give you a total of 3 injections in your upper arm within six months.

Many girls report skin redness and pain at the site of injection immediately after having the vaccine. Some also have a fever. Less common problems include indigestion, headaches, tiredness or muscle ache. There is also a risk of fainting soon after the vaccination, so you should not get up too quickly after having the shot.

Regulatory authorities are monitoring the situation to see whether other, less common adverse effects are reported. You will find more information about the advantages and disadvantages of the vaccine on our website.

Who can be vaccinated?

Since March 2007, the relevant authorities in Germany have recommended that all girls between the ages of 12 and 17 should be vaccinated against HPV. The German statutory health insurance funds pay for girls in this age group to have the vaccine.

What else should I know?

The vaccine does not replace regular Pap tests for the detection of cervical cancer in women over 20. It also does not protect you against other sexually transmitted infections. So it is still very important to protect yourself with condoms if you are sexually active – even if you have been vaccinated.

Did you know:

Smoking increases your risk of cervical cancer and several other kinds of cancer. Quitting smoking, or not starting in the first place, is one of the best things you can do for your health.

You will find detailed information about the HPV vaccine here (URL: http://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/hpv-vaccine.352.56.en.html) .


Author: German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG)