When most people think of the HPV vaccine, they think about adolescents getting the shot as part of routine preventive care. In fact, many people mistakenly believe that if you don’t get the vaccine prior to becoming sexually active, there’s no point in getting it at all — but that’s not true.
The fact is, even adult women can benefit from the HPV vaccine regardless of how sexually active you’ve been.
Eve Medical of Miami is a trusted provider of women’s healthcare, including STD testing and preventive care, like vaccination. In this post, our team explains why having the HPV vaccine is important well beyond your teen years.
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). In fact, HPV is so common, most sexually active people will develop an infection at some point — and in most cases, the immune system eliminates it.
But like many viruses, HPV has several strains, and some strains can’t be eliminated by your immune system. Instead, the virus stays in your body, increasing your risks of developing complications — even though the virus itself doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms before those complications occur.
Specifically, certain “high-risk” strains of HPV increase your risks of cervical cancer and cancers of the vagina and vulva. They also increase the risks of anal cancer and throat cancer in both women and men. Other strains of HPV cause genital warts, a non-cancerous complication that causes discomfort, anxiety, and often, embarrassment.
As noted, many people mistakenly believe that the HPV vaccine is no longer an effective preventive strategy once you become sexually active — but that’s not the case. HPV is a very large family of viruses, with more than 200 different strains.
Although sexual activity can definitely expose you to HPV, there’s a really good chance you haven’t been exposed to all of the most dangerous, cancer-causing types. Bottom line: Even women who’ve had some HPV exposure can still lower their risks moving forward simply by having the HPV vaccine.
In fact, the CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for everyone through age 26. Between ages 27-45, the CDC recommends discussing the vaccine with your doctor to determine if it’s an appropriate choice based on your risk factors.
Older patients require three separate vaccines spaced several weeks apart to gain full immunity. Even so, considering each vaccine takes just a few moments, it’s a small investment for a lifetime of protection and peace of mind.
The HPV vaccination is a simple way to protect your future health. To schedule your vaccine or to learn about other strategies that can help you stay healthy at every stage of your life, request an appointment with our team at Eve Medical of Miami in Miami, Florida, today.
