The HPV vaccine protects against the types of human papillomavirus that cause most cervical and several other cancers, as well as genital warts. It works best when given before someone becomes sexually active, which is why routine programmes target adolescents.
Adults can still benefit, particularly if they have not been exposed to all the HPV types the vaccine covers. In many regions it is approved and sometimes recommended up to around age 45, based on individual risk and shared decision-making with a clinician. Being already sexually active does not necessarily mean you have encountered every covered strain.
The vaccine is preventive, not a treatment for existing HPV infection or warts. Whether it is recommended or funded for you depends on your age, vaccination history and region. Talk to a licensed doctor or pharmacist about eligibility and benefit in your case, and remember that cervical screening remains important even after vaccination.