I've heard about this new vaccine for teenage girls. But
I'm not sure my 14-year-old daughter needs it
since she's not sexually active. What should I
do?
- Lora
The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine actually has the best
chance of protecting against infection if the series of three shots
is given
before
a girl becomes sexually active. Some strains of HPV that are spread
through sexual contact are known to cause cervical cancer. HPV is
extremely common, affecting more than half of sexually active
people at some point in their lives. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately half of those
infected are ages 14 to 24.
While a girl may not be sexually active now, she likely
will be at some point in her life. Girls may contract HPV in their
teenage or young adult years, and then develop cervical cancer
years later.
For more information, check out these articles:
Genital Warts
Female Reproductive System
STDs
Reviewed by:
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: September 2008
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