Young women

Scotland’s routine immunisation programme is designed for girls at an age when they’ll get maximum benefit from the HPV vaccine. Although the vaccine is licensed for use up to the age of 25, it will not be offered routinely to girls aged 18 and over. This decision was based on advice given by independent experts who carried out a careful review of the evidence.

Young women who are older than the catch-up age groups (those born before 1 September 1990) will continue to be invited to be screened as part of our highly successful national cervical screening programme (women are invited to be screened from the age of 20).

Girls over 18 can help to protect themselves from the virus in other ways.

Young women who are sexually active should practise safer sex with their partner to reduce the risk of catching any type of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you want more information about sexual health speak to your nurse or doctor, or visit one of the websites listed below.

Family Planning Association (external link) provides information and resources about relationships and sexual health.

Healthy Respect (external link) provides information for young people about drop-in services and discusses issues around consent and confidentiality.

For confidential information on relationships and sexual health call the Freephone helpline on 0800 28 29 30 where you can speak to a trained advisor.

Scotland’s successful cervical screening programme means cell damage caused by HPV can be detected and treated before it has the chance to develop into cancer. Women in Scotland can have regular cervical screenings from the age of 20 to spot any changes in the cervix caused by the virus.

Since it was introduced screening has nearly halved the number of cervical cancer cases in Scotland. Find out more about the benefits of cervical screening.