HPV vaccination does not cause infertility

Children are deprived of a vaccine that protects against cancer

Daria Keln, Pravmir

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer in 90% of cases in women, and some types of head and neck tumors in men. At the same time, HPV is sexually transmitted and proceeds almost asymptomatically – you may not know that you are at risk for cancer pathology. A childhood vaccination can protect against the virus. But there is a myth that the vaccine causes infertility. Pravmir has found out why this is not the case.

How does the vaccine work?

Vladimir Kazantsev, reproductologist, head of the department at the clinic "Mother and Child" (St. Petersburg):

– It has been proven that the human papillomavirus (HPV) plays an important role in the development of cervical cancer. At the same time, most people on the planet are infected with one of the types of this virus. Therefore, the risk of infection with it is quite high, especially with unprotected sexual intercourse.

Barrier contraception significantly reduces the risk of infection, but does not completely exclude it. Especially in cases where the formations in the intimate area are located outside the organs protected by contraceptives.

Gardasil is a four–component HPV vaccine. This means that it protects against four types of human papillomavirus at once: 6, 11, 16 and 18. These types are the most significant in the formation of such a dangerous condition for a woman as cervical cancer.

The essence of the vaccine is simple: it contains highly purified virus-like particles, after the introduction of which an immunity is formed in the woman's body, which destroys the virus upon repeated contact with it.

The vaccine does not affect a woman's reproductive system in any way, therefore it cannot lead to any problems with the onset of pregnancy.

The recommended course of vaccination consists of 3 doses and is carried out according to the scheme (0-2-6 months):

• the first dose is on the appointed day;

• the second dose is 2 months after the first;

• the third dose is 6 months after the first one.

An accelerated vaccination scheme is allowed, in which the second dose is administered 1 month after the first vaccination, and the third – 3 months after the second vaccination.

"I have not had any patients with infertility after HPV"

Yulia Voznesenskaya, Head of the Reproductive Medicine Clinic at the European Medical Center (Moscow):

– "Gardasil" is a vaccine that has passed tremendous clinical trials. For about 20 years it has been used for the prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV) disease. Neither at the stage of clinical trials nor at the stage of vaccination did the vaccine show any connection with infertility.

I have been treating infertility for 18 years. I didn't have a single woman at my reception who was routinely vaccinated with this vaccine. There is no connection with infertility. The instructions for the drug describe other side effects – redness at the injection site and a pre-fainting state within 10 minutes after injection. There's nothing wrong with that.

Both of my daughters received a course of HPV vaccine this year.

I think it's better to get three injections at a young age than to get sick with a virus and get into the risk group for cervical cancer.

Women infected with HPV remain on dispensary observation for life – once a year they undergo cervical cytology and a smear for HPV. This has to be done in order not to miss cancer.

"To destroy the myth, it is necessary to make information about vaccination transparent"

Anton Barchuk, oncologist-epidemiologist, Executive Director of the Association of Oncologists of the Northwestern Federal District, researcher at the University of Tampere and the N.N. Petrov National Research Institute of Oncology:

– As an epidemiologist, I can say that there is not a single epidemiological study that would show a link between HPV vaccination and infertility. It doesn't exist. This is a myth. The problem is that many people believe in it and are not vaccinated because of groundless fear.

Free HPV vaccination was carried out in Armenia back in 2018. Coverage was less than 10%. People were afraid that the vaccine causes infertility. Since no one used free vaccination, it was made available to people of all ages. As a result, mothers came to the hospital with the girls and vaccinated themselves, but not their daughters. The children were deprived of a vaccine that could protect them. For adults, it is already less effective.

The vaccine will bring the greatest benefit to girls aged 12-15 years – that is, before the onset of sexual activity, until they are infected with HPV. In addition, from the age of 12 to 13, the body gives the maximum immune response – antibodies are produced that will protect a person in contact with the virus.

HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, some types of head and neck tumors in men, as well as a number of genital tumors in people of both sexes. Accordingly, the vaccine protects against precancerous diseases, early tumor diseases, cancer and death from it.

In addition, vaccination stops the spread of the virus in the entire population. For example, in Australia, it was noticed that after the start of HPV vaccination, much fewer men began to contact urologists with complaints of warts. Although the men were not vaccinated, they received a positive effect.

HPV vaccination is not included in the National Vaccination Calendar, as in Australia or a number of Western European countries. But soon it may be included there – this is already being discussed in the government and the Federation Council. But this will not have the desired effect if people do not get vaccinated because, for example, fear of infertility.

In my opinion, in order to destroy this myth, it is necessary to register all cases of vaccination and monitor the undesirable consequences. Everything should be transparent and open to show people that there are no serious side effects and that nothing is being hidden from them.

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