I Have Read That the HPV Vaccine is Recommended for Girls Between the Ages of 9 and 26. I am 27—Does That Mean That the Shot Would Not Work for Me?
Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.
Question:
I was inquiring about the HPV vaccine. I have read that it is recommended for girls between the ages of 9 and 26. I am 27 — does that mean that the shot would not work for me?
Answer:
The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes warts and also can induce changes in the lining of the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. There are many strains of HPV; each strain is assigned a different number. The HPV vaccine is designed to prevent infection with the strains that most commonly cause cervical cancer and genital warts.
The reason for the age recommendation of 9 years old to 26 years old is not related to vaccine effectiveness. The vaccine will still be effective even if you are older than 26. The recommendation comes from a desire to vaccinate girls before they become teenagers and at the same time target older teens and young adults. Girls and women in these age groups will be at the highest risk of contracting a new HPV infection now and over the next five years.
Women 27 and older might want to get the vaccine, especially if they have more than one sexual partner. But remember that the vaccine is not 100% effective at any age. A woman who has been vaccinated should still insist that her partner use a condom to help prevent transmission of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections.
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