The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly approved a vaccine updated by drugmaker Merck & Co. Inc. that broadens protection against nine forms of HPV, according Youth Health Mag.

Previous versions of HPV vaccines reportedly only protected against only four forms of the virus while the new vaccine has broadened protection by preventing cancers caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 while it can prevent genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11.

While HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and about 75 to 80 percent of men and women are infected with HPV during their lifetime and most don't develop symptoms and clear it on their own, it can also reportedly lead to cervical, vaginal, vulvar and anal cancer.

The FDA reportedly stated on Wednesday that the updated Gardasil 9 has the potential to prevent roughly 90 percent of cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers, according to Fox News. The original Gardasil reportedly protected against strains blamed for 70 percent of U.S. cervical cancers.

Gardasil 9 is reportedly given in three doses over the course of six months. The safety of the HPV vaccine was reportedly evaluated in 13,000 boys and girls while the most common side effect was pain at the injection site, swelling, redness and headache.

The FDA has reportedly approved the HPV vaccine for use in males and females - in ages 9 to 26 for females and 9 to 15 in males.