Get your HPV Vaccination at Oakwood Pharmacy in Woodhouse Eaves!
HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus, is a group of common skin viruses. There are over 100 HPV viruses and the majority do not cause any serious issues. However, there are a few strains of HPV that are considered high risk, and these high risk strains are often associated with cancer. The cancer-causing strains of HPV are often spread through sexual contact. It is possible to catch HPV despite not engaging in penetrative sex.
Symptoms
The more common HPV strains that cause warts and verruca’s do not cause cancer. Most people suffering from HPV won’t have any noticeable symptoms making it difficult to tell if the strain of HPV you’re dealing with is cancer related.
Prevention
You can lower your risk of contracting HPV by:
– Practising Safe sex: using a condom
– Receiving the HPV vaccine
HPV Vaccine
The HPV vaccine helps protect against cancer-causing strains of HPV. 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by an HPV infection. Having the HPV vaccine is the most effective method to protect against cervical cancer. Considering cervical cancer is the most common and most dangerous cancer for women under the age of 35, the HPV vaccine is vitally important to saving lives. Nonetheless, the vaccine does not completely eradicate the chances of contracting cervical cancer. It is extremely important for women to have regular cervical screening as the vaccine can only protect against 80% of cervical cancers.
The HPV vaccine is also increasingly important for men to help reduce penial cancers! The HPV vaccine is, age-dependent, a course of two or three injections in the upper arm. These vaccine injections need to be at least six months apart and all doses must then be administered to ensure the highest likelihood of safety.
Gardasil has been the HPV vaccine used in the NHS vaccination programme since 2012. Sometime during the 2021 to 2022 academic year, the HPV vaccine used in the NHS programme will switch to Gardasil 9. Gardasil 9 protects against 9 types of HPV: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. Reference
Is HPV an STD?
In short, yes. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) with the majority of sexually active people contracting HPV at some point.
How to get the vaccine
You may not be eligible to receive the HPV vaccine through the NHS so you will need to obtain the vaccine privately if you need it. All children aged 12 and above can now receive the HPV vaccine from the NHS for free. After the age of 15, three doses of the vaccine will be required to ensure maximum protection. The HPV vaccine is available from the NHS up until the age of 25.
Price
£160 per dose, 3 doses
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