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Can you still get cervical cancer if you've had the vaccine?

Author

Michael Henderson

Updated on February 27, 2026

Can you still get cervical cancer if you've had the vaccine?

Can the HPV vaccine cause cancer? No. Because the HPV vaccine is made using only a single protein from each type of the virus, it can't cause HPV infection, and, therefore, it can't cause cervical cancer or other cancers.

Consequently, can you still get cervical cancer after the HPV vaccine?

Yes, vaccinated women will still need regular cervical cancer screening because the vaccine protects against most but not all HPV types that cause cervical cancer. Also, women who got the vaccine after becoming sexually active may not get the full benefit of the vaccine if they had already been exposed to HPV.

Subsequently, question is, can you get HPV if you were vaccinated? There is a small chance that someone might still get genital warts after having all their HPV vaccine shots. The vaccine protects against 90% of the HPV strains that cause genital warts. But there are lots of different strains (types) of HPV and the vaccine cannot protect against them all.

Hereof, does Gardasil prevent all cervical cancer?

No. The vaccine does protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause cancer. But it does not protect against all HPV strains.

How long does the cervical cancer vaccine last?

Studies have shown that the vaccine protects against HPV infection for at least 10 years, although experts expect protection to last for much longer.

Does HPV mean my husband cheated?

HPV is very common, and if you're sexually active, it's one of the risks you face. It doesn't mean that you or your partner (or previous partners) did anything wrong. Partners tend to share strains of the virus between them, which means it's almost impossible to know where the infection started.

What are the worst side effects of the HPV vaccine?

Possible side effects
  • Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given.
  • Fever.
  • Dizziness or fainting (fainting after any vaccine, including the HPV vaccine, is more common among adolescents)
  • Nausea.
  • Headache or feeling tired.
  • Muscle or joint pain.

Is HPV contagious for life?

Depending on the type of HPV that you have, the virus can linger in your body for years. In most cases, your body can produce antibodies against the virus and clear the virus within one to two years.

Will I always test positive for HPV?

HPV spreads through sexual contact and is very common in young people — frequently, the test results will be positive. However, HPV infections often clear on their own within a year or two. Cervical changes that lead to cancer usually take several years — often 10 years or more — to develop.

Can HPV come back after 20 years?

There is no cure for HPV, but 70% to 90% of infections are cleared by the immune system and become undetectable. HPV peaks in young women around age of sexual debut and declines in the late 20s and 30s. But women's risk for HPV is not over yet: There is sometimes a second peak around the age of menopause.

Is it possible to get HPV from a monogamous relationship?

At any age, having a new sex partner is a risk factor for getting a new HPV infection. People who are already in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship are not likely to get a new HPV infection.

What percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV?

Cervical cancer is caused by sexually acquired infection with certain types of HPV. Two HPV types (16 and 18) cause 70% of cervical cancers and pre-cancerous cervical lesions.

How long can HPV lay dormant?

HPV can lie dormant for years

Although the virus often heals on its own, in other cases, it lies dormant in the body and can trigger cancers years after infection. In fact, cervical cancer from HPV commonly takes 10 to 20 years or more to develop.

What is the vaccine that prevents cervical cancer?

Large Study Confirms that HPV Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer. A new study confirms that widespread use of the HPV vaccine reduces the incidence of cervical cancer, particularly for women who are vaccinated when they are younger.

Does cervical cancer vaccine have side effects?

The cervical cancer vaccine may cause some mild side effects, including soreness and redness at the injection site, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Remaining seated for about 15 minutes after you receive the vaccine may help you avoid some of these issues.

Can I get HPV vaccine at 30?

The bottom line: All males and females ages 9–26 should get the HPV vaccine. It is most effective when given at ages 11–12. Unvaccinated men and women ages 27–45 should talk to their doctor about the benefits of the vaccine. The HPV vaccine is most effective if it's given before HPV exposure.

What is the right age for cervical cancer vaccine?

Although the vaccine is approved for women up to the age of 26, it is generally considered to be best administered at the age of nine to 13 years, before girls become sexually active and potentially exposed to HPV.

Had HPV vaccine can I still get HPV?

If you got the vaccine but still got HPV, it doesn't mean that the vaccine didn't work. There are three HPV vaccines approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA): Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix.

Why was gardasil discontinued?

Gardasil 9 for preventing genital warts caused by HPV

Clinical studies used the now-discontinued Gardasil (showing protection against HPV types 6 and 11) to show the effectiveness of Gardasil 9.

The HPV vaccine is most effective in early adolescence, but this starts to decrease by age 18. Because of this, it is unlikely to provide much benefit for cancer prevention as people get older. The ACS does not recommend HPV vaccination for persons older than age 26 years.

Does HPV go away in men?

Most men who get HPV never develop symptoms and the infection usually goes away completely by itself. However, if HPV does not go away, it can cause genital warts or certain kinds of cancer.

Should I be worried about HPV positive?

If you get a positive HPV test, your physician has detected one or more high risk strains of the virus on the Pap test of your cervix. If the virus stays with you for a long time, it can cause cell changes that can lead to several types of cancer.

Can you get HPV non sexually?

6. You can become infected with HPV without having sex. HPV is not transmitted through bodily fluids such as semen or saliva, but through skin-to-skin contact. This happens most easily through sexual contact, such as vaginal, anal and oral sex.

How long does it take for HPV to cause abnormal cells?

In fact, once cells in the cervix begin to undergo abnormal changes, it can take several years for the cells to grow into invasive cervical cancer. Many women experience precancerous changes in the cervix in their 20s and 30s, though the average woman with cervical cancer is diagnosed in her 50s.

How long can you have HPV without knowing?

Most of the time, you'll never even know you've had HPV, because most strains (except those that cause warts) are symptomless. And in 90 percent of cases, the immune system clears the virus naturally within two years, according to the CDC.

What are the symptoms of HPV in females?

Depending on the type of HPV a female has, they will present with different symptoms. If they have low risk HPV, warts may develop on the cervix, causing irritation and pain.

Cervix: HPV and cancer symptoms

  • pain during sex.
  • pain in the pelvic region.
  • unusual discharge from the vagina.
  • unusual bleeding, such as after sex.

Can you get HPV from toilet seat?

Even if a person delays sexual activity until marriage, or only has one partner, they are still at risk of HPV infection if their partner has been exposed. You cannot get HPV from: Toilet seats. Hugging or holding hands.

Can HPV be brought on by stress?

“Women who reported self-destructive coping strategies, like drinking, smoking cigarettes or taking drugs when stressed, were more likely to develop an active HPV infection,” Dr Moscicki said in a prepared statement about the study.

Can you get HPV twice?

When HPV infection goes away the immune system will remember that HPV type and keep a new infection of the same HPV type from occurring again. However, because there are many different types of HPV, becoming immune to one HPV type may not protect you from getting HPV again if exposed to another HPV type.

Is it safe to take cervical cancer vaccine?

Researchers have tested the vaccines in more than 11,000 females, ages 9 to 26, around the world. They've concluded that the vaccines are safe and cause no serious side effects. The FDA has reviewed the studies and agrees.

Where is cervical cancer vaccine injected?

HPV vaccines should be administered intramuscularly in the deltoid region of the upper arm or in the higher anterolateral area of the thigh. The preferred site of administration is the deltoid region of the upper arm.

What is the major risk factor for getting cervical cancer?

Infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses.

Where does HPV come from?

You get it when your vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, or anus touches someone else's genitals or mouth and throat — usually during sex. HPV can be spread even if no one cums, and even if a penis doesn't go inside the vagina/anus/mouth. HPV is the most common STD, but most of the time it isn't a big deal.

What happens if you only get one HPV shot?

The researchers confirmed that HPV infections were "significantly less prevalent" among those exposed to at least one vaccine dose. But there was also "no significant difference" in HPV infection risk between those who had taken one, two or three doses.

How can you prevent cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer can often be prevented by having regular screenings with Pap tests and HPV tests to find any precancers and treat them. It can also be prevented by receiving the HPV vaccine.

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