HPV Vaccine Singapore

Why Is the HPV Vaccine Important?

The HPV vaccine helps protect you from the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can lead to cervical cancer and other serious health problems later in life. HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity, and often causes no symptoms, so many people carry the virus without realising it.

The vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer, which is mostly caused by HPV types 16 and 18, as well as other HPV-linked cancers of the anus, throat, vulva, vagina and penis. It can also lower your risk of genital warts, which are mostly caused by specific HPV types.

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What Are the Symptoms of HPV?

HPV is a common infection that usually causes no symptoms, and the body often clears the virus on its own within one to two years. When HPV does cause health problems, they depend on the type of virus, and genital warts are the most common:

• Genital warts — Low-risk types of HPV can cause small, skin-coloured growths on the genitals, anus or nearby skin. These warts are usually painless but can feel uncomfortable or itchy.
• Abnormal Pap smear results — In women, high-risk types of HPV usually cause no visible symptoms but can change the cells of the cervix. These changes are often found through routine cervical screening.
• HPV-related cancers — Over many years, high-risk HPV can lead to cervical cancer and the other cancers listed above. These are long-term complications of the infection, not early symptoms.

Regular screening, such as a Pap smear or HPV test, and vaccination are important ways to protect yourself, as HPV often causes no symptoms.

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Vaccination Schedule for HPV

The number of doses depends on the vaccine and your age at the first dose: two doses from age 9 to 14, and three doses from age 15.

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Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is recommended before any exposure to the virus, ideally before sexual activity begins, which is why it is usually given at a younger age:

• Girls and women aged 9 to 26 — Vaccination at this age is recommended to help protect against cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases, including for those who missed the school-based vaccination programme.
• Boys and men aged 9 to 45 — Gardasil 9 is available for males and can help protect against HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
• Women aged 27 to 45 — Gardasil 9 is available up to age 45, and women in this age group can talk to a doctor about whether vaccination suits them.

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How Is the HPV Vaccine Administered?

The HPV vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle (an intramuscular injection), usually in the upper arm.

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HPV Treatment

HPV itself has no cure, but the health problems it causes can usually be treated:

• Genital warts — Warts can be removed with creams, freezing, laser or minor surgery. Removing the warts eases the symptoms but does not clear the virus.
• Abnormal cervical cells — Laser therapy or other minor procedures can remove abnormal cells found in the cervix during screening, which can help prevent cancer.
• HPV-related cancers — Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer, and may include surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

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HPV Vaccine Cost in Singapore

At Singapore Women's Clinic, we offer the Cervarix 2 and Gardasil 9 HPV vaccines, with prices as follows:

HPV Vaccine Subsidies in Singapore

Eligible female Singapore citizens can receive government subsidies for the Cervarix (HPV2) vaccine at Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) GP clinics and polyclinics. Female Singapore citizens up to age 26 who missed the school-based vaccination programme can still receive the vaccine with subsidies. Eligible permanent residents (PRs) can receive subsidies at polyclinics.

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