HPV vaccination

Information

HPV vaccination (Human Papillomavirus) represents one of the most significant medical advances of the turn of the millennium. It has been clearly demonstrated that 90% of all cervical cancers, as well as a range of other malignant diseases in both women and men, are associated with this viral infection.

At present, it is unequivocally accepted that timely vaccination can prevent the development of these cancers. At URO MEDICO, we recommend the most suitable vaccine for each patient and guide them through the entire vaccination process. Our physicians closely follow developments in preventive medicine and always have access to up-to-date information on current trends in HPV vaccination.

What is HPV

HPV is a collective term for more than one hundred strains of the human papillomavirus, which are widely present in the population. Some strains pose no health risk, while others may have serious consequences for the human body.

High-risk strains include HPV 16 and 18, which can lead to precancerous lesions and malignant diseases and are associated worldwide with approximately 5% of all cancers. Oncogenic HPV types may cause cervical cancer as well as oropharyngeal cancer (cancers of the head and neck region – including the larynx, base of the tongue, or tonsils).

HPV types 6 and 11 cause benign but very unpleasant conditions in both men and women, such as genital warts or laryngeal papillomatosis.

Who is at risk of HPV infection

Vaccination procedure

Unlike in women, where cervical cancer screening programmes are available, no equivalent screening system exists for men. Therefore, HPV vaccination in men is of major importance.

Your physician will explain how the specific vaccine works and what it does and does not protect against. The vaccine is administered into the upper arm in a three-dose schedule over a maximum period of twelve months. The second dose is given two months after the first, and the third dose four months after the second.

Side effects of vaccination (with more than 300 million people vaccinated worldwide to date) are very rare. Some patients may experience mild side effects similar to other vaccines, such as redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever, or headache.