HPV is so common that nearly all men and women get it at some point in their lives. There are many different strains of HPV. Some strains can cause genital warts and some can cause cancers in both males and females.
Most people who have HPV do not have any visible symptoms. Many people who develop HPV-related cancers in their 30s, 40s, or 50s could have been exposed to HPV in their teens and 20s. People can still pass on the virus even when they don’t have any symptoms.
The HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006 and there has been no evidence of the vaccine becoming less effective over time.
Anyone who engages in sexual activity involving genital contact with another person who has HPV can contract HPV. Correct condom use can lower the risk of contracting or passing on HPV but HPV can infect areas of the body not covered by a condom, so condoms may not fully protect against HPV.
Tens of thousands of people who have received the HPV vaccine have been studied to determine whether the HPV vaccine caused any serious side effects. No link between the vaccine and serious illness or death has been found. Click here to learn more about vaccine safety from the CDC.
The HPV vaccine has not been shown to cause infertility. In fact, because HPV can cause pre-cancerous or cancerous abnormalities that potentially require medical treatments that may cause infertility, the vaccine could indirectly help protect against it. Click here for more information about cervical cancer treatments and fertility.