5 Myths About the HPV Vaccine — & How the New CDC Guidelines Are Affecting It

In the hubbub and widespread criticism that accompanied the CDC’s new recommended childhood vaccine schedule, released this week, one subtle change has gone mostly under the radar. It concerns the HPV vaccine, which protects against nine strains of HPV and — critically — six types of cancer.

The CDC’s new guidelines did not go so far as to stop recommending the HPV vaccine altogether, but the agency did change its recommendation from two doses for children under 15 to one dose. That’s a bigger change than it might appear.

“The evidence is very clear that booster shots do increase the efficacy of the vaccine,” Thomas Steimer, MD, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta, tells SheKnows.

Yet in a press release, the CDC wrote that “recent scientific studies have shown that one dose of the HPV vaccine is as effective as two doses.” The agency, it said, is “following the lead” of some peer nations who only recommend one dose of the HPV vaccine. These include nations like Australia, Canada, Ireland, Spain, and the U.K.

While a recent study found that a single dose may be as effective as two, “this is still under observation by health experts,” board-certified ob-gyn and DrSono co-founder Charles M. Carlsen, MD, tells SheKnows. Additionally, this study focused only on the efficacy of the shot in preventing two strains of HPV (HPV16 and HPV18) that are known to cause cancer, which is not the only adverse health effect that HPV can cause; it’s also the culprit behind genital warts, which the study did not look for.

In a time when all vaccines are shrouded in controversy and false information, the HPV vaccine is more stigmatized than most. The change in the CDC recommendations raises some questions and brings to the forefront a number pervasive myths and misconceptions around the HPV vaccine that experts are all too ready to dispel.

What Is HPV, and How Is It Related to Cancer?

HPV (short for human papillomavirus) is a sexually-transmitted infection — the most common one, in fact. According to the CDC, nearly everyone will be infected with HPV at some point in their life. It’s spread through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex. While 9 out of 10 HPV infections are asymptomatic and go away by themselves, certain strains of the virus that cause serious symptoms, namely warts (including genital warts) and cancer.

HPV can lead to six types of cancer: cervical, anal, oropharyngeal (throat), penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. The high-risk strains of the infection can cause precancerous cell changes, per Cleveland Clinic, which can lead to cancer if left untreated. (These kinds of changes are what doctors look for in screenings like Pap smears.)

When Should Kids Get the HPV Vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is highly effective at protecting against nine strains of HPV that are known to cause either warts or cancer. It works by “strengthening the immune system to recognize and resist the harmful effects of the HPV viruses prior to infecting the body,” explains Dr. Carlsen. “If the HPV is prevented from infecting the body early, it won’t be able to attack the cells to cause cancer.”

The current recommendation is for kids to receive the first dose of the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12, but it can be offered as young as 9 years old. The second dose is typically given six to 12 months later. Teens older than 15 should receive three doses of the vaccine.

TK HPV Vaccine Myths and Misconceptions

Myth #1: The HPV vaccine is only necessary if you’re sexually active.

“There’s no way my child is having sex at 11, so why do they need an STI vaccine?”

This common reaction to the HPV vaccine reveals a few misconceptions, doctors say. First of all, well, the honest truth is that you don’t know for sure that your child isn’t sexually active. And even if they aren’t, that’s the point — to get vaccinated before exposure. “You could be infected [with HPV] the very first time you have sex,” Dr. Steimer notes, “and we want to stay ahead of that.”

What many parents don’t realize, he continues, is just how common HPV really is. One study found that, within one year of sexual debut, nearly “30% of women test positive for genital HPV, and after 3 years it goes up to 49%,” he says.

The vast majority of us will get HPV during our lifetimes — it’s not a matter of if, but when. Most of those infections will resolve on their own without symptoms; what the vaccine does is protect against serious disease that can result from some strains. Dr. Steimer says it’s helpful to view it as a vaccine for cancer, more than a vaccine for an STI. “The way I present it to parents is, this is an insurance policy to protect your child against cancer for the rest of their life,” he says.

“As a doctor who treats cervical disease, this vaccine is not about sex, but about cancer,” Dr. Carlsen adds. “And the best way to protect against it is early inoculation.” Studies have also found that the HPV vaccine is more effective when administered at younger ages.

Myth #2: The HPV vaccine is only necessary for girls.

Because cervical cancer is the arguably the most common cancer to result from HPV, another misconception is that only girls and women need to get the HPV vaccine. However, boys and men can also contract HPV, warts, and HPV-related cancers like anal, oropharyngeal, and penile cancer. The vaccine is “recommended for boys and for girls,” Dr. Steimer emphasizes.

Myth #3: The HPV vaccine only protects against cervical cancer.

Relatedly, it’s worth underscoring that cervical cancer is, again, only one of the cancers related to HPV. The list also includes vulval and vaginal cancer, in addition to anal, oropharyngeal, and penile cancers. The HPV vaccine also helps protect against warts, including genital warts.

Myth #4: The HPV vaccine encourages sexual behavior in teens.

Getting the HPV vaccine “does not encourage or increase the rate of sexual activity in those teens that receive the vaccine,” Dr. Steimer says. “There’s no link at all.” Studies have confirmed this. “The vaccine does protect health. It does not alter behavior,” Dr. Carlsen agrees.

Myth #5: The HPV vaccine causes infertility.

“One common myth is that the HPV vaccine alters fertility,” Dr. Carlsen says. “In my role as an OB-GYN, I have never encountered an instance where this was true. Issues with HPV or cervical cancer treatment can lead to fertility issues — not HPV vaccines.”

The HPV vaccine has been in widespread use for 20 years, Dr. Steimer adds. “We have a long track record of experience with this vaccine. We know that it’s safe. We know that it works well.”