What are the benefits of the vaccines?
Both vaccines will prevent the 2 types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers (about 70%). Gardasil will also protect against the 2 types of HPV that cause most genital warts (about 90%). But they only work in women who have not already been exposed to these types of HPV. They also help prevent vulvar and vaginal cancers related to these 2 types of HPV. The vaccines will not prevent HPV in women who have already had these HPV types. It is possible that the vaccines also could prevent some other HPV-related cancers, including some cancers of the anus and penis, as well as some head and neck cancers. It will be some years before studies can prove whether they will prevent these cancers.
