Are you planning a

kidney transplant?

People who receive a kidney transplant must begin taking medications after their transplant surgery to help keep the body from “fighting off” the new kidney, but they also lower the body’s immune system as a side effect. This can make it harder for the body to fight off infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV). Because of this, men and women who have transplant surgery are at a higher risk of developing cancers that are caused by HPV, such as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, throat, and anal cancers. Researchers believe that receiving the Gardasil vaccine before transplant surgery happens may protect transplant recipients from HPV and the cancers it causes.