Human papillomavirus and the HPV vaccine: are the benefits worth the risks?

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in the United States. This article gives an overview and discussion of HPV virus types and transmission, and the quadrivalent vaccine now available to protect against it. Included are the nursing implications for the HPV vaccine related to education and counseling of parents, patients, and young adult women regarding HPV vaccination, for whom the vaccine is indicated.