Private HPV Vaccine in London

What is the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against 9 types of human papillomavirus (HPV): types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. These 9 types are responsible for approximately 90% of cervical cancers, 90% of anal cancers, and 90% of genital warts. The vaccine works by triggering your immune system to produce antibodies against these HPV strains before you are exposed to them.

Gardasil 9 replaced the older Gardasil 4 vaccine in the UK. It covers five additional HPV types (31, 33, 45, 52, 58) and provides broader protection against HPV-related cancers.

Who should get the HPV vaccine?

The vaccine is for men and women. There is no upper age limit for private vaccination, though the greatest benefit comes from vaccination before first sexual contact.

• Children and teenagers. The NHS offers the HPV vaccine to all children aged 12-13 through the school programme. If your child missed the school dose, or if you want them vaccinated earlier (from age 9), we can do this privately.
• Adults who missed the school programme. If you were not vaccinated at school, or if you were vaccinated with the older Gardasil 4 and want the broader Gardasil 9 protection, the vaccine is still worthwhile. You may already have been exposed to some HPV types through sexual contact, but the vaccine will still protect against any of the 9 types you have not yet encountered.
• Men. HPV causes genital warts and contributes to anal, penile, and throat cancers in men. The NHS school programme now covers boys, but men who missed it can be vaccinated privately at any age.
• Women over 26. The NHS catch-up programme currently covers women up to age 25. If you are older than 25 and were not vaccinated, or if you want the Gardasil 9 upgrade, the vaccine is still available privately and still provides protection against HPV types you have not been exposed to.

What does HPV actually do?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. There are over 100 types. Most are harmless and clear on their own without treatment. The ones that matter are:

• High-risk types (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58): These can cause cell changes in the cervix, anus, throat, and penis that, if undetected, may develop into cancer over years or decades. Types 16 and 18 alone are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. Regular cervical screening catches these cell changes early, which is why smear tests remain important even if you have been vaccinated.
• Low-risk types (6 and 11): These cause genital warts. While warts are not dangerous, they are uncomfortable, can recur, and treatment can be painful. The Gardasil 9 vaccine prevents both.

HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin genital contact: vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Condoms reduce but do not eliminate the risk because HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom. Most sexually active people will contract at least one HPV type during their lifetime, usually without knowing.

HPV vaccine and cervical cancer

The link between HPV and cervical cancer is the primary reason the vaccine exists. In countries with high vaccination rates, cervical cancer rates in vaccinated cohorts have dropped dramatically. A 2021 Lancet study analysing England's national HPV vaccination programme found cervical cancer rates were 87% lower in women vaccinated at age 12-13 compared with unvaccinated cohorts, with 62% and 34% reductions for those vaccinated at 14-16 and 16-18 respectively. By mid-2019, the programme had prevented an estimated 450 cervical cancers and 17,200 pre-cancers. That study measured the older Cervarix vaccine, which covers two HPV types. Gardasil 9 covers nine types, so the real-world protection should be at least as strong.

The vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections or existing cell changes. It prevents new infections. This is why vaccination before first sexual contact gives the greatest protection, and why cervical screening is still necessary after vaccination.

If you have had an abnormal smear test result or a previous HPV infection, the vaccine is still recommended. It will protect against the HPV types you have not yet been exposed to.

Side effects

The most common side effects are soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, and a mild headache. These typically resolve within 1-2 days.

Serious side effects are extremely rare. Large-scale safety reviews by the WHO, the EMA, and the MHRA have found no evidence of a link between the HPV vaccine and chronic illness. The vaccine has been given to hundreds of millions of people worldwide since 2006.

HPV vaccine vs cervical screening

These are not alternatives. They work together.

The HPV vaccine prevents infection with the HPV types most likely to cause cervical cancer. Cervical screening detects cell changes caused by HPV types you may already have been exposed to, including types not covered by the vaccine.

Even fully vaccinated women should continue having regular smear tests. The vaccine covers the highest-risk types but not all HPV strains that can cause cell changes.

Frequently asked questions