HPV Vaccine: Why It Is Never Too Late to Protect Yourself Against HPV

HPV infection is extremely common, but its long-term consequences are largely preventable. The HPV vaccine protects against strains of the Human Papillomavirus that can cause certain types of cancer as well as genital warts. While vaccination is most effective before becoming sexually active, sexually active individuals can still benefit significantly.

Learn how HPV spreads, what health conditions it can cause, the ideal time to receive the vaccine, and why staying informed about prevention matters for both women and men.

What Is HPV and Why Is Prevention Crucial?

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) refers to a large group of viruses comprising more than 200 subtypes. While some cause common skin warts, others are transmitted through intimate mucosal contact and affect:

• The genital region
• The anus
• The mouth and throat

Based on their oncogenic potential, these strains are classified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk subtypes.

Most sexually active individuals will contract HPV at some point in their lives without ever knowing it. In many cases, a healthy immune system suppresses or clears the infection without lasting harm. However, persistent infection with high-risk subtypes can trigger progressive cellular changes that, over time, develop into cancer.

Key Statistics: According to data from the Institute of Public Health of Serbia „Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, Serbia ranks fifth in Europe in cervical cancer incidence and second in mortality.

These alarming figures underline the critical need for primary prevention, HPV immunization, and routine gynecological checkups.

What Health Conditions Can HPV Cause?

The clinical outcome of an HPV infection depends directly on the specific viral subtype contracted:

Low-Risk HPV Types

Strains such as HPV 6 and 11 are most commonly responsible for condylomas (genital warts). While these growths are benign, they can be persistent, physically uncomfortable, and often require prolonged, repeated clinical treatment.

High-Risk HPV Types

Oncogenic strains—most notably HPV 16, 18, 31, and 33—can induce cellular dysplasia. If left undetected and untreated, these abnormal cellular changes can advance to invasive malignancy.

High-risk HPV types are proven causative agents for:

• Cervical cancer
• Vulvar and vaginal cancers
• Anal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Oropharyngeal cancers (affecting the tonsils, soft palate, and base of the tongue)

Note: A positive HPV test result is not a cancer diagnosis. Routine screenings and medical monitoring ensure that abnormal tissue changes are identified and managed before malignant transformation occurs.

Does HPV Threaten Men's Health as Well?

Yes. HPV is not exclusively a women's health issue.

„Men are very often asymptomatic carriers of the virus, but they can develop condylomas as well. Although significantly less frequent, high-risk subtypes in men can cause cancer of the penis, anus, and oropharyngeal region—the part of the throat encompassing the tonsils and the base of the tongue.”
— Dr. Milica Petrović-Kmezić

HPV: 4 Common Myths About Transmission and Prevention

1. Myth: Condoms offer complete protection against HPV

• Fact: Condoms significantly lower transmission risks, but they do not eliminate them entirely. HPV spreads via direct skin-to-skin and mucosal contact across the entire anogenital area, including regions not covered by a barrier. Even so, consistent condom use remains essential for overall sexual health and lowering infection rates.

2. Myth: Oral sex carries no risk of HPV infection

• Fact: HPV readily transmits during oral sex when viral particles contact the mucosal lining of the oral cavity and pharynx. High-risk strains are directly linked to rising rates of oropharyngeal cancer.

3. Myth: You can catch HPV at a swimming pool

• Fact: Genital HPV requires direct, intimate human contact to spread. The virus cannot survive in chlorinated pool water or persist on dry, inanimate surfaces like sun loungers, public toilet seats, or shared towels.

4. Myth: HPV directly causes infertility

• Fact: The virus itself does not impair fertility. However, if high-risk strains lead to advanced cervical dysplasia requiring surgical excisions (such as conization or LEEP), the procedure may alter the structural integrity of the cervix, occasionally affecting future pregnancies.

„Once you are infected with HPV, there is no medication that directly eliminates the virus. Our own immune system is what eventually suppresses or clears it over time. That is precisely why prevention is key.”
— Dr. Milica Petrović-Kmezić

The HPV Vaccine: The Most Critical Step in Prevention

HPV vaccination is the single most effective primary intervention against HPV-related diseases. Modern vaccines are specifically engineered to neutralize the strains responsible for the vast majority of cervical carcinomas, anogenital malignancies, and genital warts.

When Is the Best Time to Get Vaccinated?

Immunization provides optimal efficacy prior to sexual debut, establishing immunity before any potential exposure to the targeted strains. The vaccination series can begin as early as age 9.

• Availability in Serbia: Under the National Immunization Program, the HPV vaccine is fully funded and free of charge for children and young adults aged 9 to 19 at municipal primary healthcare centers (Domovi zdravlja).

Does the Vaccine Make Sense if You Have Already Been Exposed?

Yes, unequivocally. Early assumptions that the vaccine held no value after the onset of sexual activity have been disproven by modern clinical evidence:

• The nonavalent vaccine (Gardasil 9) provides protection against 9 distinct HPV subtypes. Even if you have been exposed to one strain, the vaccine still protects against the remaining eight.
• Clinical trials show that administering the vaccine to patients treated surgically for cervical dysplasia significantly cuts the rate of disease recurrence.

Why Is HPV Vaccination Important for Men?

Immunizing boys and men prevents genital warts as well as penile, anal, and throat cancers. Furthermore, broad vaccination across all genders builds robust community herd immunity, cutting viral circulation and protecting unimmunized partners.

Take Charge of Your Health

HPV infection is exceptionally common, but its life-threatening consequences are preventable. Staying proactive through reliable medical information, timely vaccination, and consistent screening appointments is the foundation of long-term reproductive health.