MYTHS AND FACTS
MYTH
I’m the only person I know with HPV.
FACT
HPV is common.²⁷
While many people diagnosed with HPV think they are alone,
that’s far from the truth!
An estimated 80% of reproductively active people will have HPV at
some point in their lives. Since most HPV infections have no symptoms,
a person who has been infected may never know about it.
MYTH
I am married, I don’t need to worry about reproductive tract infections (RTIs) or HPV.
FACT
Even married couples can get an RTI, just like HPV.²⁷
Even married couples or spouses with just one partner are at risk of
developing RTIs or HPV.
MYTH
If we have always used contraceptives, we are not at risk of getting HPV.
FACT
When they are used correctly, physical protection methods are highly effective. However, they are likely to be less effective when up against RTIs that spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as HPV.²⁷
Contraceptives cannot provide 100% protection against HPV.
MYTH
The HPV diagnosis can confirm when and where you got the infection.
FACT
Even after diagnosis with HPV, there is no way to pinpoint for how long a certain infection has been there.²⁷
The virus can remain in the body from anywhere between a few weeks, all
the way to an entire lifetime, without any sign of its presence.
An HPV infection may reveal symptoms, such as lesions, warts, or cervical
abnormities after months or years. Its ability to lie silent for all this time
makes HPV very mysterious.
MYTH
HPV vaccination is not safe.
FACT
The HPV vaccination is well-tolerated and does not cause any major health complications.²⁸
Just like any other vaccine or drug, the HPV vaccine may have minimal side
effects (SEs) including, soreness or redness in the arm where the
injection was administrated. Other common SEs include a low-grade
fever, headache or tiredness, nausea, or muscle/joint discomfort. All
these SEs are brief and last for a very short time. An allergic response
is not common, if someone is allergic to any of the vaccine’s
components, then the vaccine should be avoided.
Studies on the vaccine itself were conducted for years (at least 10),
and these are strictly it is strictly monitored by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
MYTH
HPV vaccination can lead to infertility.
FACT
These claims are based on inaccurate evidence and are not supported by research or clinical studies.²⁸
A recent study of more than 200,000 women discovered no link between
the HPV vaccine and premature ovarian failure. In contrast, the HPV
vaccine can help protect fertility by preventing gynaecological issues
associated with cervical cancer therapy.
MYTH
HPV vaccination cannot protect against cervical cancer.
FACT
In the studies that led to the licensing of HPV vaccines, approximately 100% of participants were protected against persistent cervical infections.²⁸
Persistent cervical infections are caused by HPV types 16 and 18, as well
as the pre-cancers associated with those persistent infections.
Furthermore, a research study of HPV vaccines in males revealed that
they can prevent warts.
MYTH
HPV vaccines were only tested against pre-cancers, and have not been shown to prevent cancer.
FACT
Because HPV cancers can take decades to develop, the initial clinical trials were conducted using pre-cancers as the endpoint.²⁹
Monitoring over more than a decade of vaccine use has found a
decrease in HPV-cancer rates in those who were vaccinated.
MYTH
The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against enough strains of human papillomavirus to be worth getting.
FACT
The current HPV vaccine protects against nine different forms of HPV.²⁸
These nine HPV types have been linked to more than 90% of cervical
tumours and other warts and cancer diagnoses. This immunization is
extremely effective in preventing this very widespread viral illness,
as well as warts and cancers.
MYTH
HPV is uncommon, and it’s unlikely I’ll be infected, so there’s no need to get the HPV vaccine.
FACT
The most common RTI is the HPV infection.²⁸
RTIs accounts for approximately 14 million additional infections in the
United States each year. It’s so common that almost every adult will indeed
be exposed to at least one strain of HPV at some point of their lives.
Over 80 million people in the U.S. are now infected.
MYTH
We have Pap smears, so why do we need HPV vaccination?
FACT
Pap smear testing can only identify cervical pre-cancers, and does not address other HPV-related anogenital cancers.²⁹
Pap smears have been very effective at reducing cervical cancer rates in
the in the U.S. However, HPV vaccination can prevent more cancers than just cervical
cancer and can also prevent the precancers that are detected via Pap smears. Pap
smears have not prevented any cases of cervical cancers, but
merely served as a mechanism to treat high-grade lesions with no impact
on cancer development.
MYTH
The HPV vaccine is unnecessary because most people clear HPV infections naturally.
FACT
For HPV infections that do not clear, there is also often a rapid development of HPV-related cytological changes and genital wart development.²⁹
While the 90% clearance estimate represents a substantial proportion
of HPV infections, things need to be put into perspective. Even if 90%
of the cases are cleared by the immune system, there will still be
millions of people with persistent infections that could progress to
cytological abnormalities.
MYTH
11-12 years of age is too young to vaccinate.
FACT
HPV vaccine showed a high immune response at earlier ages.²⁹
Clinical trial data has documented that receipt of HPV vaccine prior to
15 years of age results in HPV antibody titers approximately 2x higher
than when vaccination is provided at 15 years of age or older.