OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administered during the periconceptional period or during pregnancy was associated with increased risks for adverse obstetric events, adverse birth outcomes, or selected major structural birth defects.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study using administrative and health care data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Insured women 13-27 years old with singleton pregnancies and a live birth from January 1, 2007, through September 1, 2013, who received quadrivalent HPV vaccine during the periconceptional period (2 weeks before to 2 weeks after their last menstrual period), during pregnancy, or during both periods combined were compared with women who had a live birth during the same time period and received quadrivalent HPV vaccine 4-18 months before their last menstrual period. We examined risks of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age birth, and selected major structural birth defects in offspring. We estimated relative risks associated with receipt of quadrivalent HPV vaccination during the periconceptional period, during pregnancy, and both exposure periods combined using a generalized linear model with Poisson distribution including a propensity score that included relevant maternal demographic and pregnancy characteristics.
RESULTS
Of 92,579 potentially eligible pregnant women, 720 received quadrivalent HPV vaccine during the periconceptional period, 638 received quadrivalent HPV vaccine during pregnancy, and 8,196 received quadrivalent HPV vaccine during the comparison period. Administration of quadrivalent HPV vaccine during pregnancy was not associated with increased risk of adverse obstetric events, birth outcomes. Preterm birth occurred in 7.9% of pregnancies with vaccine exposures during pregnancy compared with 7.6% of pregnancies with vaccination in the comparison period (adjusted relative risk 0.97, 95% CI 0.72-1.3). Major structural birth defects were diagnosed in 2.0% of pregnancies with vaccine exposure during pregnancy compared with 1.8% of pregnancies with vaccine exposure during the comparison period (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.0, 95% CI 0.52-1.9). Results were similar for quadrivalent HPV vaccine exposure during the periconceptional period.
CONCLUSION
Quadrivalent HPV vaccine inadvertently administered in pregnancy or during the periconceptional period was not associated with adverse pregnancy or birth outcomes.