HPV Vaccination and Hearing Trouble: A Population-Based Analysis

Introduction Hearing loss is a widespread public health concern associated with cognitive, social, and quality-of-life impairments. Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is primarily administered to prevent HPV-related cancers, there is growing interest in its broader health associations, including potential effects on hearing. To date, little is known about whether HPV vaccination is associated with hearing-related outcomes at the population level. Methods We analyzed data from 11,737 participants in the 2021–2023 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Hearing status was determined through self-report and dichotomized as good hearing versus hearing trouble. HPV vaccine status was based on self-reported receipt of at least one dose. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between HPV vaccination and hearing trouble, adjusting for age, gender, education, and marital status. Results Among participants, 80.2% reported good hearing and 19.8% reported some degree of hearing trouble. HPV vaccination rates were slightly lower among those with hearing trouble (33.5%) compared to those with good hearing (36.9%). However, HPV vaccine status was not significantly associated with hearing trouble in adjusted analysis (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.80–1.37, p = 0.717). Older age was associated with higher odds of hearing trouble (OR = 1.03 per year, p < 0.001), while female gender was protective (OR = 0.73, p = 0.007). Marital status and education level were not significantly associated with hearing outcomes. Discussion In this nationally representative sample, we found no evidence that receipt of the HPV vaccine is associated with increased risk of hearing trouble. These findings align with prior research indicating a lack of strong population-level evidence for otologic side effects following HPV vaccination. Our results also reinforce the well-established associations between hearing trouble, older age, and male gender. Further research using longitudinal data and objective audiologic assessments is warranted to confirm these findings and explore potential long-term effects.