Hello, I was diagnosed with HPV last summer. I had one of the Gardasil shots prior to being with the partner who gave it to me and then the other 2 afterwards. I just found out today that his prior girlfriend got cancer from it. Does this mean I have the exact same strain and will get cancer too?! I havent had any symptoms besides an abnormal pap smear, and my boyfriend has maybe had just a couple mild warts, we werent sure if they were or not. Please help!
Hi, Thanks for writing in. Gardasil shots will not cause cancer, and it protects from cancer. However, if you have been exposed to an HPV before being completely vaccinated then you might develop the infection and that is what has happened to you. It is not mandatory that if your partners earlier partner had cervical cancer then you will also get it. Since you have abnormal pap smear earlier therefore chances of a malignant condition might persist, and you have to get pap smear done every year and if indicated a cervical biopsy also. Please do not worry.