Dear zazaza,

Good question. The HPV vaccine protects us against the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts # namely, HPV types 16 and 18 (associated with cervical cancer) and 6 and 11 (associated with warts). The vaccine makes your body's immune system produce antibodies to these HPV types. The antibodies protect you from getting infected with HPV.

It is recommended that all girls 11 to 12 years old get the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine works best in girls who have not yet had sex or been exposed to HPV. But even girls and women who have had sex may benefit from the vaccine.

If you are interested in the HPV vaccine, you should talk about it with your parents. And if you have more questions about HPV, cervical cancer, or the HPV vaccine, your local Planned Parenthood health center may be able to help.