The short version
- HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It is a common virus, and most infections clear on their own.
- Long-lasting infection with a high-risk type is what causes nearly all cervical cancer, and many vulvar and vaginal cancers.
- CDC recommends 2 doses at ages 11 to 12, given 6 to 12 months apart. It can be started at age 9. [1]
- People who start the series at 15 through 26 need 3 doses over 6 months. [1]
- Some adults aged 27 through 45 may decide to be vaccinated after talking with their doctor. [1]
- Vaccination does not replace screening. You still screen on schedule. [2]
What HPV is
Human papillomavirus is a family of more than a hundred related viruses. Some cause common warts on the hands. A smaller group infects the genital area, and a smaller group still, called high-risk HPV, is the one that matters for cancer.
Genital HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact during sex. It is common enough that most sexually active people encounter it at some point, and in most people the immune system clears it within about two years and nothing happens. A diagnosis of HPV is not a statement about how many partners anyone has had, or when. It can lie quiet for years.
Which cancers it causes
Persistent infection with a high-risk type causes nearly all cervical cancer. It also causes a large share of vulvar and vaginal cancers, along with anal and some throat cancers. [3] CDC states that HPV vaccination has the potential to prevent more than 90 percent of cancers caused by HPV. [1]
The path from infection to cancer is slow. That is the whole reason screening works, and it is why the vaccine given before exposure prevents so much.
The vaccine
The HPV vaccine works by teaching the immune system to recognize the virus before it ever arrives. It is a preventive vaccine, not a treatment. It does not clear an infection you already have, which is why it works best given before any exposure.
Who should get it and when
| Doses | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 9 to 14 | 2 doses | Children aged 11 to 12 should get 2 doses, given 6 to 12 months apart. The series can be started at age 9. [1] |
| Ages 15 to 26 | 3 doses | Anyone who has not started the series by 15 needs 3 doses over 6 months. [1] |
| Ages 27 to 45 | Discuss with your doctor | Some adults in this range who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the vaccine after talking with their doctor about their risk of new infections and the possible benefit. [1] |
The reason the vaccine is given at 11 or 12 is not an assumption about anyone's child. It is that the immune response is strongest at that age and the protection is in place long before it is needed. Parents ask this often, and it is a fair question to ask out loud.
What if I am already an adult
If you are between 27 and 45 and were never vaccinated, the plain answer is that the benefit is smaller than it would have been at 12, because you may have already been exposed to some of the types the vaccine covers. It is not zero. CDC frames this as a decision to make with your doctor rather than a blanket recommendation. [1] Bring it up at your next visit and decide together.
Whatever you decide, keep screening. ACOG is explicit that women who have been vaccinated still follow the cervical cancer screening recommendations for their age group. [2]
HPV vaccine questions and answers
A printable sheet answering the questions parents and patients ask most. This printable guide is in development. In the meantime, everything it will contain is on this page, and the office can walk you through it. See the handouts we do have.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV Vaccination. Last reviewed August 20, 2024, accessed August 21, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccines/index.html
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cervical Cancer Screening (patient FAQ). Copyright May 2021, accessed August 21, 2026. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cervical-cancer-screening
- National Cancer Institute. Vulvar Cancer Treatment (PDQ) Patient Version. Updated September 18, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/types/vulvar/patient/vulvar-treatment-pdq
- Neibart S, Zhou N, Chino J, et al. Health equity, disparities, and barriers to cervical cancer care in the U.S.: A consensus statement by SGO, ACOG, ASCCP, ASTRO, and ABS. Gynecol Oncol. 2025;200:186-192. Retrieved from PubMed (PMID 40947174). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2025.07.029
Reviewed by DeEtte R. Vasques, DO, MBA · September 2026