Frequently asked questions

GARDASIL 9 is approved for children 9 years and older. Talk to your child’s doctor at their next wellness visit.

Yes, GARDASIL 9 was studied with:

Studies show that when GARDASIL 9 was given at the same time as Menactra and Adacel, there was more swelling in the location of the shot.

^aMenactra [Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine] and Adacel [Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Tdap)] are the trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

HPV can also affect males later in life with certain HPV-related cancers, including certain head and neck cancers such as throat and back of mouth cancers, and anal cancer.

For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers later in life.

In the United States, certain throat and back of mouth cancers are now the most common HPV-related cancers in men. While both men and women can develop these cancers, they affect men more often.

Not all head and neck cancers and anal cancers are caused by HPV.

Learn more about the HPV vaccine.

The ingredients are proteins of HPV Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, yeast protein, sodium chloride, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sodium borate, and water.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

Yes. GARDASIL 9 can be given to appropriate girls and women who are ages 9 to 45, as well as boys and men who are ages 9 to 45.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

Yes, women should receive a Pap test as a part of routine cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer screening will play a key role in protecting your daughter’s future health.

GARDASIL 9 does not remove the need for screening for cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers as recommended by a health care professional.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

People cannot get HPV or any of these diseases from GARDASIL 9.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

Tell your child’s doctor if your child:

Your child’s doctor will help decide if your child should get the GARDASIL 9 vaccine.

The most common side effects include:

Fainting can happen after getting GARDASIL 9. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, your child’s doctor may ask your child to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after your child gets GARDASIL 9. Some people who faint might shake or become stiff.

Women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant should talk to their health care provider before getting GARDASIL 9.

You should contact your child’s health care professional right away if your child has any symptoms that bother them.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

HPV can be passed through more than just intercourse. All that may be needed is intimate skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. Anyone who has the virus could pass it on without knowing.

For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers later in life.

There is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer or other HPV-related diseases.

There is no treatment for HPV itself. However, there are treatments for cancers and diseases caused by HPV. GARDASIL 9 does not treat HPV infection or HPV-related cancers and diseases.

For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases later in life.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

GARDASIL 9 can be given to appropriate girls and women, and boys and men who are 9 through 45 years of age.

Your child should not get GARDASIL 9 if they have had an allergic reaction to:

For more information about whether your child should receive GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

Girls may be at risk for certain HPV-related cancers and diseases including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and head and neck cancers such as certain throat and back of mouth cancers as well as genital warts later in life.

In the United States, the most common HPV-related cancer in women is cervical cancer.^a

^aBased on 2017-2021 CDC data.

Not all of these cancers are caused by HPV.

For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.

Related: What is the link between HPV and cervical cancer?