Someone asked us:

Hi! I was just wondering about the HPV vaccine and recommendations for trans women. Since my legal sex is still ‘male,’ is it still a good idea for me to get the vaccine?

Depending on how old you are, it may be a great idea for you to get vaccinated.

There are two types of HPV vaccines in the US. Cervarix prevents against two strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers as well as vaginal and anal cancers. The other vaccine is called Gardasil and it protects against these two cancer causing strains plus an additional two strains of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts. So regardless of gender, we recommend that anyone age 9-26 get the HPV vaccine.

What about folks older than 26? It’s likely that they have already been exposed to HPV and therefore the vaccine isn’t going to be as beneficial. But you can always talk with your health care provider about the specifics of your situation.

And btw, Planned Parenthood strives to provide LGBT-friendly health care. Find a health center.

-Nathan at Planned Parenthood