Private HPV Vaccine in London

HPV is spread primarily through sexual contact with an infected partner, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, as well as non-penetrative genital skin-to-skin contact. Nearly all sexually active people acquire HPV at some point in their lives.

Condoms reduce but do not completely eliminate the risk, because HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom. HPV often has no symptoms, meaning a person can carry and transmit the virus without knowing.

No, there is currently no medical cure or treatment for the HPV virus itself. While the body’s immune system clears the virus on its own in most cases, persistent infections can lead to cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers, as well as genital warts.

Healthcare professionals can only treat the health problems caused by HPV (such as removing warts or abnormal cervical cells), which is why preventative vaccination is so critical.

Yes. Two specific types of HPV cause approximately 90% of all genital wart cases in both males and females, and the Gardasil 9 vaccine protects against both.

Genital warts are highly contagious—approximately two-thirds of people will develop them after genital contact with an infected partner. Because treatment can be painful and they frequently recur (approximately 25–30% of cases recur within the first 3 months of treatment), vaccination is the most effective preventative measure.

Long-term follow-up studies show that protection from Gardasil 9 lasts at least 10 years, with no evidence of waning immunity in this period. Protection is expected to last much longer and may be lifelong, and at present no booster doses are recommended after completing the initial course.

Yes. HPV is not just a risk for women. In men, HPV can cause anal cancer, penile cancer, and cancers of the mouth and throat (oropharyngeal cancer), alongside genital warts. HPV-related throat cancer in men is increasing rapidly in the UK.

The HPV vaccine helps protect males by preventing infection with these specific high-risk types, whilst also reducing the spread of the virus to their partners.

Because the NHS HPV vaccination programme for boys only started in 2019, most adult men in the UK have been left unprotected. HPV is a leading cause of anal cancer and a major cause of throat, head, and neck cancers in men.

Getting vaccinated privately at Hampstead Heath Pharmacy protects you against these cancers, prevents genital warts, and provides ‘herd immunity’ to protect your sexual partners. We provide a discreet, judgment-free space in North London for men to get protected.

The NHS offers the HPV vaccine for free to children aged 12 to 13 (in school Year 8), and to eligible individuals such as men who have sex with men (MSM) up to the age of 45 through sexual health clinics. There is also a catch-up programme for unvaccinated young people via their GP (eligible females up to age 25, and males born on or after 1 September 2006 up to age 25).

If you fall outside these eligibility criteria—for example, if you missed out on the HPV vaccination at school or are an adult over 25 looking to protect yourself—you can easily book a private HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) with us at Hampstead Heath Pharmacy.

Yes. Even if you have been sexually active with multiple partners, you are highly unlikely to have been exposed to all nine HPV types covered by the Gardasil 9 jab. The vaccine protects against any of the nine types you have not yet encountered.

Studies show that even in sexually active adults, vaccination significantly reduces new HPV infections and related diseases.

Yes. Even if you have been infected with one type of HPV, the vaccine can still protect you against the other high-risk types covered by Gardasil 9 that you have not yet been exposed to.

Infection with one HPV type does not prevent infection with another, meaning most people previously infected with HPV will still gain highly meaningful benefits from vaccination.

Yes. Hampstead Heath Pharmacy is one of the few specialist clinics in London offering private HPV vaccination to adults over 45. The Gardasil 9 marketing authorisation in the UK specifies use "from the age of 9 years" with no upper age limit, meaning prescribing it to adults over 45 is fully on-label.

Medical evidence shows that the immune system continues to respond effectively to the vaccine later in life. If you are over 45 and anticipate new sexual partners, the vaccine will still provide robust protection against the high-risk HPV types you have not yet encountered.

Yes. HPV vaccines have an excellent safety record. Over 270 million doses have been administered worldwide, and independent health authorities, including the WHO, MHRA and EMA, continually confirm its safety.

The most common side effects are mild injection-site reactions (redness, pain, swelling) and headaches, which usually resolve very quickly.

No. It is biologically impossible to get HPV, cervical cancer, genital warts, or any other HPV-related disease from the HPV vaccine.

The vaccine does not contain any live virus, dead virus, or viral DNA. It is made from a single protein that mimics the outer shell of the virus, simply training your immune system to fight the real virus if you are ever exposed to it in the future.

No, you do not need a cervical screening or HPV test before booking your vaccine—you can begin your course immediately.

However, you must continue to attend your routine NHS cervical screening appointments even after completing all doses, as the vaccine does not protect against every HPV type that can cause cervical cancer. In England, most women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 are invited every 5 years if they test negative for high-risk HPV, but you should always follow the interval specified on your NHS screening invitation.

The HPV vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy. While there is no evidence to suggest the vaccine harms you or your baby, it is standard medical practice to delay the vaccine until after your pregnancy is complete.

If you find out you are pregnant after starting your vaccine course, you should wait until after giving birth to receive your remaining doses. It is, however, completely safe to receive the vaccine whilst breastfeeding.