Human papillomavirus vaccine does not appear to negatively affect pregnancy

Researchers reviewed prospective data on 517 women from the United States, France, and Canada who were exposed to the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 6/11/16/18 vaccine up to 1 month before the onset of their last menstrual period or at any time during pregnancy.

Of these women, 451 had live births, including 3 sets of twins, for a total of 454 neonates. Overall rates of spontaneous abortion, major birth defects, and fetal death were 6.9 per 100 outcomes (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.8-9.6), 2.2 per 100 liveborn neonates (95% CI, 1.05-4.05), and 1.5 per 100 outcomes (95% CI, 0.60-3.09), respectively. All of the rates were no greater than those in unexposed populations.

Dana A, Buchanan K, Goss MA, et al. Pregnancy outcomes from the pregnancy registry of a human papillomavirus type 6/11/16/18 vaccine. Obstet Gynecol. 2009;114(6):1170-1178.