More and more, the young women in my practice are asking about the Gardasil vaccine.

This vaccine was designed for women from 9 to 26 years old to prevent diseases caused by 4 types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause a spectrum of diseases including precancerous cervical lesions, cervical cancer, and genital warts. There are more than 100 types of HPV, but the vaccine focuses on 4 “high risk” virus types that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.

To become immune, you’ll need 3 doses of the vaccine: the first one at the time of your choice, the second 2 months after the first dose, and the third 6 months after the first dose. Possible side effects associated with the vaccine include pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site, nausea, dizziness, or fever.

Unfortunately, many people who have HPV may not show any signs or symptoms, and can pass it to their partners during sexual intercourse. The main goal of the vaccine is to protect and prevent before you get exposed to HPV.

Many pediatricians are administering the Gardasil vaccine as part of the routine immunizations given at 11 years of age, with the consent of the parents, of course. Please note that if you already have HPV, this vaccine cannot be used for treatment.

However, having HPV does not mean you shouldn’t consider the vaccine, since Gardasil can protect you from the other virus types covered by the vaccine.

Even if you get the vaccine, I want to emphasize that all women still need regular pelvic exams and pap smears to screen for cervical cancer — since the vaccine, though very effective, does not cover all types of the HPV virus. Protected intercourse is also important to prevent all sexually transmitted infections.