As the health care providers for women who suffer from cervical and lower genital tract cancers, members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) have long been primary advocates for the prevention of cervical and other human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers. SGO strongly supports vaccination of both girls and boys against HPV to prevent HPV-related cancers. Use of these vaccines, coupled with recommended cervical cancer screening, would eliminate most cervical cancer. Other cancers associated with HPV including cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and some head and neck cancers may also be prevented with use of the HPV vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration has monitored the safety of the HPV vaccines since the FDA licensed them in 2006 and 2009. In the 57 million doses administered from June 2006 through March 2013, there were no new or unusual patterns of adverse events to suggest any safety concerns.