A new study finds that young girls who are vaccinated against human papillomavirus aren't more likely to engage in sexual activity. Doctors aren't surprised.
MONDAY, OCT. 15, 2012 —Pediatrics,,
Elizabeth Alderman, MD, director of the post-doctoral fellowship for the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, says she’s both pleased and unsurprised by the study. "I have not found that when giving this vaccine girls run out and have sex,” explains Dr. Alderman, adding that Gardasil typically is given to girls at around the age of 11. "They are very young, and the chances of them becoming sexually active is very low."
The paper is based on an independent research project, which was funded by Kaiser Permanente and Emory University, and examined the medical records of 1,398 girls. Among the group, 493 girls received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine during the study period, while the control group included 905 girls who received other recommended vaccines but not the HPV vaccine. Researchers followed the girls for up to three years to assess whether they had been tested for or diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, had taken a pregnancy test, or been counseled about contraceptives
Since Gardasil first hit the market in 2006, more parents have become receptive to the idea of vaccinating their child against the sexually transmitted disease that’s a known cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Today it’s a standard prophylactic treatment for teen girls, given along with several vaccines that protect against other infections such as meningitis and tetanus protesi. Even still, many parents express apprehension about the vaccine, and therefore not all eligible teen girls are receiving one. According to the study, in 2010 fewer than half of all young women had received the vaccine even though it’s now approved for girls as old as 16.
“In the early days there were a lot of concerns,” says Dr. Alderman. “This study is really very interesting. I think it’s useful for physicians out in the field to help reassure parents.”
Dr. Alderman says typically when she advises a patient about the vaccine, a parent is present in the exam room, which often means the young patient is less inclined to ask questions about sex.
However there are times when Dr. Alderman administers the vaccination to a teenager, and will have time to talk with that patient alone. "I ask them questions about what they're doing with their friends," says Dr. Alderman, who has worked as a specialist in adolescent medicine for 20 years. "Physicians always like to use primary care visits as teachable moments.".
HPV affects more than half off all women each year. For that reason, Katina Robison, MD, a gynecologist who practices at the Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, believes it's counter-intuitive to suggest educating patients will lead to more reckless behavior.
"I've never seen anyone become more sexually active," she says of patients who receive a Gardasil vaccination. "In fact, I've seen the reverse. People become more cautious."
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