Controversy has surrounded the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine since its approval in 2006. In the U.S., targeted campaigns spread myths about its safety and necessity. As a result, 26 percent of American parents who refused the vaccine in 2019 did so because of safety concerns, up from only 5 percent in 2008.

In 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set a goal of vaccinating 80 percent of adolescents against HPV by 2030. As of 2023, only 61.4 percent of U.S. adolescents were fully vaccinated against HPV, including 57 percent of younger adolescents.

Below, we’ve debunked some of the most common myths about the HPV vaccine.

The HPV vaccine doesn’t cause cancer—it prevents it

Vaccine opponents attempt to falsely link different vaccines to cancer, with no evidence to support their claims. In the case of the HPV vaccine, the myth is particularly egregious because the vaccine is one of only two vaccines that prevent cancer. (The other is the hepatitis B vaccine, which can prevent liver cancer.)

HPV causes 91 percent of cervical and anal cancers, 75 percent of vaginal cancers, 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers (a type of throat cancer), and over 60 percent of vulvar and penile cancers. HPV is an extremely common virus that nearly every sexually active person will be exposed to in their lifetime. Yet, 30 percent of Americans are unaware that the virus can cause cancer.

HPV-related cancer rates have dropped since the vaccine’s rollout

A more recent false claim about the HPV vaccine alleged that HPV-related cancer rates have risen since the vaccine became available. This false claim is based on a misrepresented UCLA study published in 2022 that found an increase in the diagnosis of late-stage cervical cancer.

The study did not assess total cervical cancer rates, which have decreased since the vaccine’s rollout, especially among young women. Research by the same group found that the rate of cervical cancer among women eligible to receive the vaccine as teens decreased by 9.5 percent annually after the vaccine’s approval, and a U.K. study revealed that the vaccine had reduced cervical cancer among young women in the country by nearly 90 percent.

Notably, the rates of some HPV-related cancers have increased in recent years. However, the trend is influenced by lower cervical cancer screening rates in certain populations and does not affect the age groups that received the HPV vaccine.

In addition to the U.K. study, research in Sweden, the United States, and Australia shows a decrease in infections and cervical cancer rates in girls vaccinated against HPV.

The HPV vaccine does not affect fertility

Ample research, including a 2020 study and a WHO analysis of global data, found no link between HPV vaccination and infertility.

Research falsely claiming the opposite has been retracted due to “serious flaws” in how the data was analyzed and interpreted.

The HPV vaccine has no effect on sexual behavior

Some conservative and religious groups oppose HPV vaccination, not out of safety concerns, but because they believe it encourages risky sexual behavior in teens and young adults. Some critics have even accused health professionals of sexualizing girls, encouraging teenage sex, and promoting unsafe sexual behavior if they encourage the vaccine. 

These arguments misunderstand that the vaccine is most effective before exposure to the virus. Thus, vaccination is recommended in late childhood and early adolescence before exposure is likely.

Multiple studies, including an analysis of 20 earlier studies, found that HPV vaccination had no effect on teen sexual behavior. Vaccinated teens were not more sexually active, likely to test positive for sexually transmitted infections, or likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.

You can get the HPV vaccine even if you’ve already been infected

Because HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, most experts recommend vaccination before an individual is sexually active. However, that doesn’t mean that people who are already sexually active or already infected can’t receive the vaccine.

The HPV vaccine provides immunity to multiple viral strains, so even if you’ve been exposed to one, the vaccine can still protect you against others. Gardasil 9, the only HPV vaccine used in the U.S. since 2016, protects against nine HPV strains.

The HPV vaccine isn’t just for teen girls

Although the HPV vaccine is recommended for adolescents of any gender ages 11 to 12, anyone between the ages of 9 and 45 can receive it. Most people will be exposed to the virus at some point and will benefit from vaccination.

The vaccine is typically administered in two doses, six months apart. People who begin vaccination after age 15 should receive three doses, with at least four weeks between the first and second doses and five months between the first and third doses. People over the age of 26 will need to consult a doctor for the best vaccination schedule.

The HPV vaccine is very safe

In the 17 years since the vaccine’s approval, hundreds of millions of doses have been administered worldwide, and no serious safety concerns have been flagged. Despite this, parents report growing concerns about the vaccine’s safety.

The HPV vaccine, like all FDA-approved vaccines, went through rigorous safety testing, including clinical trials. HPV vaccine clinical trials included around 75,000 participants. 

Getting the HPV vaccine is important for cervical cancer prevention, even if you get regular Pap smears

Getting regular Pap smears significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer. However, these tests should be treated as a secondary cancer prevention method since they detect precancerous lesions that occur after a person has already become infected with HPV. 

Getting the HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer by preventing vaccinated people from getting common strains of HPV in the first place.

HPV is incredibly common—which is why getting the vaccine is so critical

Nearly everyone will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lives, and more than 42 million Americans are currently infected with types of HPV that cause disease. Getting the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against HPV and reduce your risk of developing HPV-related cancers.

For more information, talk to your health care provider.