The groundbreaking cervical vaccine that prevents cervical cancer shot in girls is gaining a reputation as the most painful of childhood shots, health experts say. Health officials have touted the Gardasil cervical cancer prevention vaccine as an important new protection against a cancer-causing sexually transmitted virus. In recent months, they’ve also noted reports of pain and fainting from the cervical cancer shot. During its first year of use, reports of girls fainting from cervical cancer shot climbed, but it’s not clear whether the pain of the cervical cancer vaccine was the reason for the reaction.

Officials at Merck & Co., which makes the cervix cancer vaccine, acknowledge the sting. They attribute it partly to the virus-like particles in the cervical cancer shot. Pre-marketing studies showed more reports of pain from Gardasil than from dummy shots, and patients reported more pain when given cervical cancer shot with more of the particles.

Meanwhile, U.S. health officials have noticed a rise in reports of vaccine-associated fainting in girls. From 2002-2004 there were about 50 reports of fainting; from 2005 until last July, there were about 230. About 180 of those cases followed a shot of Gardasil, which came on the market in 2006.

Cervical cancer shot side effects gives several comments through many girls. The pain because of the cervical cancer shot is short-lived, girls say; many react with little more than a grimace. But some teens say it’s uncomfortable driving with or sleeping on the injected arm for up to a day after getting the cervical cancer shot.

The cervical cancer shot is recommended for girl ages 11 to 12, although it may be given to girls as young as age 9. It’s important for girls to receive the cervical vaccine before they have sexual contact and are exposed to HPV.

Once a girl or woman has been infected with HPV, the cervix vaccine may not be as effective. In addition, there are cervical cancer shot for boys also. Gardasil cervical cancer shot can be given to boys between ages 9 and 26 to help prevent genital warts.

Cervical cancer shot are given as a series of three injections over a six-month period. The second dose is given one to two months after the first dose, and the third dose is given six months after the first dose. In clinical trials, Gardasil and Cervarix were effective in groups of sexually active women age 26 or younger, some of whom had already been infected with one or more types of HPV.

Over time, however, researchers may find that three doses of the cervix vaccine aren’t necessary — or that a booster cervical cancer shot is needed years later. However, Gardasil and Cervarix only protect you from specific strains of HPV to which you haven’t been exposed.

The more sexual partners you’ve had, the greater your chance of having been exposed to multiple types of HPV. The cervical cancer shot isn’t recommended for pregnant women or people who are moderately or severely ill. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies, including an allergy to yeast or latex