HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine has been around for over a decade. It has continued to aid many individuals in their protection against HPV strains, offering safety and effectiveness. However, while the HPV vaccine provides many benefits, there are still misconceptions about the vaccine.
To ensure that you are equipped with the right knowledge, here are 5 key myths you should understand about HPV vaccination.
Myth #1: HPV is uncommon, making HPV vaccine pointless
Science has shown that the genital HPV infection is one of the world’s most common sexually transmitted infections. Each year, over 14 million infections happen in the United States alone. Due to how common HPV is, both genders can be infected with at least a single type of HPV at least once in their lives.
In the United States, there are currently over 80 million infected with HPV. Meanwhile, Singapore Cancer Society stated that an estimate of 8 out of 10 people are likely to contract HPV at some point in their lifetime.
Myth #2: Safety is not guaranteed with HPV vaccinations
The fact is that HPV vaccinations are entirely safe and do not offer an individual any severe health issues. According to Ministry of Health’s HealthHub, HPV vaccinations are indeed safe and effective, and do not contain infectious material or live viruses. As such, individuals will not contract HPV from vaccines.
Unlike other medicines or vaccines, HPV vaccination causes mild reactions to the individual. The side effects individuals may receive from HPV vaccinations include headache, nausea, muscle or joint pain, or low-grade fever.
Myth #3: Only females require HPV vaccine, men and boys do not need it
This myth is not true as HPV can affect both genders. For instance, HPV can cause genital warts, oral, anal and penile cancer in men. HPV can also be transmitted to their sex partners if they do not know that they have it.
If you are looking to prevent warts or remove them, there are safe places you can visit in Singapore. For instance, there are clinics that offer genital warts treatment that is both secure, safe and effective.
Myth #4: HPV vaccinations may lead to infertility
In the past, there have been claims that HPV vaccination may cause infertility due to previous premature ovarian failure that was neither backed by evidence or research. In a recent study taken by 200,000 women, scientists have found that HPV vaccine and premature ovarian failure had no association between them.
Instead, HPV vaccines can further help women to protect their fertility by preventing any gynaecological problems that may arise from treatments related to cervical cancer.
Myth #5: The HPV vaccine doesn’t fully protect one from the virus, making it pointless
While there are over 100 different kinds of HPV, you should understand that not all of them cause severe health issues. With the current HPV vaccination, it can protect individuals against nine critical types of HPV. Among these nine types of HPV, there have been links to 90% of genital warts cases, anal cancer diagnoses, and cervical cancers.
The HPV vaccination is secure and safe, protecting individuals against common viral infection and ensure that cancers and genital warts can be greatly prevented.
Conclusion
HPV vaccination is important for many individuals, especially when it comes to preventing serious health issues. If you require an HPV vaccination, always seek an STD clinic in Singapore to receive the right treatment. We offer plenty of services such as health screenings, HIV testing, and many more.