The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, or Gardasil, protects against four strains of HPV: strains 6 and 11, which cause genital warts, and strains 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the HPV vaccination for 11- and 12-year-old girls, though the vaccine can be administered up to age 26. While the CDC states that the HPV vaccination is safe, some users may experience side effects.
Common Side Effects
Kristi Monson, PharmD, and Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, authors of the article "HPV Vaccine Side Effects," note the most common side effects of the HPV vaccination occur at the site of the injection: 83.9 percent of patients have pain, 25.4 percent have swelling and 24.6 percent have redness. The authors add that 13 percent have a fever after receiving the HPV vaccination, 6.7 percent have nausea, 3.6 percent have diarrhea and 4 percent have dizziness. The CDC recommends that patients should wait in their doctor's office for 15 minutes after receiving the injection in case fainting occurs.
Severe Side Effects
While not common, Monson and Schoenstadt note, severe side effects can occur with the HPV vaccination. These include signs of an allergic reaction, which can be a skin reaction (rash, hives and itching skin) or breathing problems. A high fever is another severe side effect. In rare cases, users may display signs of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which include tingling, weakness and paralysis. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines Guillain-Barré syndrome as an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system attacks the nervous system.
Additional Side Effects
Monson and Schoenstadt state that other side effects of the HPV vaccination occur in 1 percent or fewer of cases. These side effects include vomiting, headaches, coughing, joint pain, insomnia and toothaches. The authors note, however, that it is difficulty to tell if some of these additional side effects are caused by the vaccine, or have a different cause.
