Cervical

HPV: the vaccine, tests and other infections

The HPV vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, such as Gardasil, protect against the types of the virus that cause most cervical cancers, but not all of them. That is why vaccinated people still need regular cervical screening.

The vaccine is recommended at 11 or 12, with catch-up vaccination up to 26. Between 27 and 45, it is a decision to make with your physician. From 30, the most important step is to keep up with your cervical screening.

Other sexually transmitted infections

Get tested if you have symptoms of an infection, such as unusual discharge, discomfort, a different smell, itching or pain. Knowing about an infection means you can treat it and avoid passing it on: use a condom during sex. Other infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, trichomonas or mycoplasma genitalium, may make an HPV infection last longer.

This article gives general information and doesn’t replace advice from your physician. Want to know which screenings apply to you? Take the ScreenMe questionnaire.