Indications
Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Gardasil) is a vaccine for girls and women 9 through 26 years of age. It prevents diseases caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types the vaccine covers. These are cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18, and genital warts (condyloma acuminata) caused by HPV types 6 and 11. It also prevents these precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2/3, cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1. The list continues with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) grade 2 and grade 3, vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) grade 2 and grade 3, and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) grades 1, 2 and 3. For boys and men 9 through 45 years of age, Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent is used to prevent anal, oropharyngeal and other head and neck cancers caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. It also prevents genital warts (condyloma acuminata) caused by HPV types 6 and 11. The precancerous or dysplastic lesions it prevents in this group are anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) grades 1, 2 and 3, caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
HPV infects only human beings. Studies in animals with similar animal papillomaviruses suggest that L1 VLP vaccines may work by building up humoral immune responses. In people, Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent is thought to protect against anogenital diseases linked to the vaccine HPV types through the humoral immune responses the vaccine produces. The exact way it protects is still not known.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent is Pregnancy Category B. Studies in female rats, at doses equal to the recommended human dose, showed no sign that the vaccine impaired female fertility or harmed the fetus. But there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, and animal studies don't always predict how humans will respond. So Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
It is not known whether the vaccine passes into human milk. Many drugs do pass into human milk, so caution should be taken when Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent is given to a nursing woman.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.