• HPV is the most common sexually
transmitted virus in the United States
• At least 50% of sexually active people will have genital HPV
at some time in their lives
• A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he/she
had sexual contact with an infected person
• Most infected people do not realize they are infected or
that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner
• There are about 40 types of genital HPV
- Some types can cause cervical cancer in women,
and can cause other kinds of cancer in both men & women
- Some types of HPV can infect the mouth and
throat
- Other types can cause genital warts
Is
there a vaccine?
The
Okaloosa County Health
Department carries the vaccine, Gardasil.
The HPV vaccine is a 3-dose series - available for males and females
- to protect against the types of HPV that most commonly cause
health problems. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
recommends that this vaccination is administered between the ages of
9-26*. Vaccines can offer protection against the types of HPV
that cause most cervical cancers. *The
best way a person can be sure to get the most benefit from HPV
vaccination is to complete all 3 doses before beginning sexual
activity. |