How Often Should You Get Gardasil Shots?
Garadsil is a vaccine used to prevent precancerous genital lesions, cervical cancer and genital warts caused by the genital human papillomavirus (HPV). According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer will be the cause of death for an estimated 4,070 women in the United States in 2009. HPV is a common sexually transmitted disease.
Other People Are Reading
-
Recommended Ages
-
The Gardasil vaccine is recommended for girls and women 9 to 26 years of age.
Prevention
-
The HPV vaccine will not treat existing HPV infections so it is important to get the vaccine before exposure to HPV through sexual contact.
-
Frequency
-
Because the vaccine is new, the length of protection is not exact, but studies have shown the Gardasil vaccine protects for at least five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional doses are not recommended at this time.
Side Effects
-
Common side effects of the HPV vaccine are related to the injection site such as pain, itching or redness. Other side effects include fever, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Warning
-
Although not common, watch for symptoms of an allergic reaction, including wheezing, rash, hives, hoarseness, difficulty breathing and a rapid heart beat. If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical attention immediately.
-
