There is now a three-dose vaccine that protects against four common types of genital human papillomavirus (HPV), which cause most cervical cancers and genital warts. This HPV vaccine has been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe and effective for females, ages 9 to 26 years.

　　what is HPV and What are its Health Effects? HPV s a common vrus that s passed on durng sex. There are about 40 types of HPV that can nfect the gentaareas of men and women. Most sexuay actve aduts get HPV at some tme n theves, athough most never know t because HPV usuay has no symptoms and goes away on ts own. But: Some types of HPV can cause cervcacancer n women. Other types of HPV can cause gentawarts. The Amercan Cancer Socety estmates that n 2006, over 9,700 women were agnosed wth cervcacancer, and 3,700 women ded from n the Unted States. It s estmated that about 1 mon sexuay actve peopn the Unted States have e gentawarts at any pont n tme.

　　l The HPV vaccine is recommended for 11-to 12-year-old girls, and can be given to girls as young as 9. The vaccine also is recommended for 13-to 26-year-old girls/women who have not yet received all three doses.