When we talk about
HPV vaccinea fear often comes up in medical offices as well as on social networks: what if it makes girls and boys sterile? This worry directly affects future pregnancy plans and pushes some parents to hesitate.
Opposite, doctors point out that
human papillomavirus are a very common infection, causing precancerous lesions and cancers whose treatments can damage fertility. Major studies published in recent years now make it possible to see things more clearly.
HPV: a common infection that can disrupt fertility
Approximately 80% of women and men experience HPV during their lifetime. In France, these viruses are involved in nearly 7,130 cancers each year, including around 2,900 cervical cancers, and in 30,000 precancerous cervical lesions, sometimes treated by cervical surgery with a possible impact on future pregnancies, such as an increased risk of premature birth.
Even before the cancerous stage, several studies suggest that latent HPV infection could increase the risk of miscarriage in certain women, while other studies do not find an overall decline in female fertility. In men, on the other hand, the negative effect is well documented: HPV is found in the semen of approximately one in five infertile men and is associated with:
- A decrease in ejaculate volume and sperm count;
- Reduced mobility (asthenozoospermia);
- Increased fragmentation of sperm DNA and antibodies against sperm.
The impact of HPV on sperm is manifested by a confirmed reduction in the fertility of couples. Research has found that HPV infection in men significantly increases the risk of miscarriage and reduces the chances of conception as well as carrying a pregnancy to term. Given that HPV is present in the semen of one in five infertile men, their influence on infertility is likely significant.
HPV vaccine: what fertility studies show
Before being placed on the market, the quadrivalent vaccine then
Gardasil 9 were tested in rats: no effect on the fertility of males, females or their offspring was observed. In humans, an American study of 1,100 women found no link between HPV vaccination and overt infertility, and an Armenian cohort of 98 vaccinated women did not demonstrate a negative impact on fertility indicators.
In 2025, the Cochrane Institute analyzed 225 studies gathering data on 132 million vaccinated people. Its authors conclude: “Parents often worry about whether the HPV vaccine causes infertility. Our study demonstrated with a high degree of certainty that the HPV vaccine does not cause fertility problems.”specifies the Cochrane Institute. With more than 300 million doses administered worldwide, there has been no evidence of increased fertility disorders or autoimmune diseases.
In some infertile men, vaccination improves the chances of pregnancy
Researchers followed 151 infertile couples in whom HPV was detected in their semen. Vaccination was offered to men; about half accepted it, forming the vaccinated group, with the other half serving as controls. The spermatozoa of vaccinated men saw their mobility improve significantly.
In concrete terms, 30 pregnancies were obtained in the vaccinated group, or 39% of couples, compared to only 11 in the control group, or 15%. The vaccinated group had 29 births due to miscarriage, compared to 4 births and 7 miscarriages among the unvaccinated.
In France, vaccination against HPV is recommended between the ages of 11 and 14, with catch-up possible up to the age of 26: a way to protect yourself early against an infection which can really threaten the fertility and reproductive future of the couple.
In summary, it appears that HPV vaccination in young girls and boys does not have a negative impact on their future fertility, and could even protect it. By preventing infection in men, it reduces the risk of infertility caused by the effects of HPV on sperm. In addition to its proven effectiveness in preventing the numerous cancers associated with these viruses and their severe impact on health and fertility, the HPV vaccine presents itself as an additional means of combating one of the causes of infertility.