Can Women Over 26 Get Guardisil?

Question

I'm 28 and know I already have at least one type of HPV, however would like to be protected against types I may not have.

I asked my uncle, a pharmacist, this question and he said I shouldn't worry about it because I've probably already been exposed to the types of the virus covered and fought them off, causing immunity to them. He said that that's why it isn't really pushed (or so far approved) for women over 26.

Personally, I don't see why not. The CDC says I may not get the full benefit, but can benefit and there's no way to know.

Answer 1

Yes, women over 26 can get the vaccine. The only reason they have an age limit from 9-26 is because that is the age group they tested during the initial trials. Also, women between the ages of 9-26 are less likely to have had sex compared to, say, a 40 year old. And, the younger a person is, the less likely they are to have come in contact with HPV (this isn't always true though).

Also, A LOT of people think you have to be a virgin to get the vaccine - that's not true. Women who have had sex can also get the vaccine.

And, A LOT of people think once you have HPV it will have no affect on a person - this is also not true. If a woman already has HPV it won't cure her of it, but it can possibly prevent her from contracting a kind of HPV she doesn't already have. The vaccine protects against 4 different kinds of HPV (two known to cause about 70% of cervical cancer and two known to cause about 90% of genital warts). Say, for example, a young girl only has one kind of HPV that the vaccine prevents. Theoretically if she gets the vaccine, she'll be protected from contracting the other 3 kinds of HPV that the vaccine protects against.

Talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine. I really doubt they would object to it, especially because you are only two years older than the recommended ages. Good luck!

Answer 2

You Uncle is right and you are too.

They are saying that once over 26 you probably have been exposed to the virus the injection is protecting against, but as you say how do they know? I wonder if there is a blood test or something you can have to find out?

I don't have the answer to this but would recommend a discussion with your GP.

Answer 3

They limited the vaccine to this age because girl below 26 yo are more like it not to have any sexual contact, so it will protect them. As you said I don't think that it has anything to do with age per se but with the fact that the older the girl the most probable to have had sexual encounters and being exposed.

Answer 4

yes you are too old to get the vaccine. For the inital trial, they aimed the woman aged 9-26, for whose have not ever taken the sexual intercourse or HPV virus. It might keep them from getting hpv high risky type which casue to cervical cancel.

But you also can take it.

Answer 5

I would double check with your dr because this vaccine was not studied in women over 26 years old. It's one of the reasons that I haven't gotten one (besides that I have health issues that won't allow me to get it even if I didn't want to).

Answer 6

The Guardasil shot is only for virgins. It won't be effective since you are already exposed. As far as your uncle, HPV can go into dormant state and flare up to cause cancer later on in life. It's a crap shoot for those of us that have already been sexually active.

Answer 7

yea of course you are old enough. there are girls on the commercial who are teens