The internet has a lot of power these days, with any crazy person with a Wifi connection able to target anyone, anywhere. It’s easy to see how this might affect your emotional wellbeing – but what about your sexual health? Wellness expert Shaun Dreisbach notes, ‘Imagine a vaccine that helps prevent cancer. Now imagine that it’s going unused because of myths circulating online. That’s what’s happening with the HPV vaccine: A debunked article from 2009, which claims the shot doesn’t work and that it has led to dozens of deaths, went viral again late last year, and University of Maryland researchers have found that 52% of the HPV-vaccine-related videos they examined on YouTube had a negative, disapproving tone.’ But how can one article do so much damage?
‘Some experts fear these rumours are contributing to “horrifically low” vaccination rates for HPV—a sexually transmitted infection that affects nearly all adults and can cause genital warts and cancer,’ Dreisbach warns. ‘The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that this lifesaving vaccine could prevent 15,000 cases of HPV-related cancers each year, but a new study says that only 28% of women 18 to 26 report having started the three-dose series. As with any immunisation, there can be side effects, but out of the 57 million doses given in the US, less than 2,000 cases of serious reactions have been documented—and some of those haven’t been conclusively linked to the vaccine.’
Katharine O’Connell White, MD, chief of the division of general obstetrics and gynaecology at Baystate Medical Centre in Springfield, Massachusetts, argues that the HPV vaccine is ‘as safe as the flu shot. The most common side effects are pain and redness at the injection site; “more serious” symptoms include nausea and fainting. You have to balance the vaccine’s risks against what’s possible if you don’t get it, which is cancer.’ Dreisbach admits, ‘Though some deaths have been reported, the CDC has investigated each case and found no evidence the vaccine was to blame. And the shots are effective. Gardasil, the most popular and widely available vaccine, offers nearly 100% protection against the 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of reported cervical cancer cases. The vaccine also protects against other strains that cause genital warts.’
But you’ve probably missed your chance now, right? ‘You can still get the shot if you’re already sexually active,’ says Dreisbach. ‘The vaccine is usually recommended for girls between ages 11 and 12 because it works best prior to HPV exposure. But some experts say adult women should also get it, even if they’ve already had HPV…While the FDA has yet to officially recommend the vaccine to women over age 26, many doctors do prescribe it.’ Dr. White explains, ‘Your body could naturally fight off the infection, and then you can get HPV again. Getting vaccinated now may safeguard you against future infections…If you’re not monogamous, you’re probably going to see more penises!’
And make sure you get all of your doses, says Dreisbach: ‘One study found that only 17% of women, on average, get all three doses of an HPV vaccine, which are supposed to be administered over a six-month period. Although that’s better than nothing (National Cancer Institute research shows that one or two doses still help women develop higher anticancer antibody levels than unvaccinated women), a partial series may not be enough to keep you cancer-free, so it’s best to follow up and get all the shots.’ And, if you need more information, don’t trust everything you read on the internet. As Dr. White says, ‘If you still have questions about the HPV vaccine, hit up your gyno—not Google.’