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HPV Toolkit: Parents - Tackling the Tough Questions

  1. The HPV vaccine is for sexually active girls. I don't think my daughter is, or will be, sexually active. Why should she get the vaccine?
  2. I thought only "promiscuous" girls got STDs? Is my child at risk for HPV?
  3. Is HPV really such a big deal? Is it serious?
  4. What if this vaccine encourages my child to be promiscuous?
  5. How do I communicate with my teen about STDs/sex?
  6. Why is the recommended age for the vaccine so young? I feel uncomfortable vaccinating my young girl for a sexually transmitted disease.
  7. I consider myself conservative. What are influential conservative groups saying about the vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is for sexually active girls. I don’t think my daughter is, or will be, sexually active. Why should she get the vaccine?

Most parents hope their adolescents/ teenagers are not sexually active. Some parents hope their children will not be sexually active until they are married, and others at least until they are out of the house, or an "adult." However, statistics tell us that by age 19, 46% of teens have had sex. Studies have shown that by age 24, 89% percent of young men and 92% of the young women surveyed had had intercourse. Another surprising statistic, over half of teenagers aged 15-19 have had oral sex, which still puts them at risk for oral HPV that can lead to head and neck cancers (Washington Post).

No parent wants to think of their child being involved in difficult circumstances; however, here are some other examples that may warrant protection from HPV even when a daughter isn’t having premarital sex:

  • Physical attack/date rape from an HPV infected person
  • Future spouse who contracted HPV from previous relationship(s)
  • An unfaithful spouse who becomes infected

It is understandable that making decisions about a vaccine that makes you consider your child having sex is a sensitive issue and requires thorough information and deliberation. If you would like more information on teens and sex, see:

I thought only "promiscuous" girls got STDs? Is my child at risk for HPV?

The truth is, HPV is easily spread, even without intercourse from skin to skin contact. While the risk for contracting HPV goes up with multiple partners, it is very likely that someone could get HPV from their first sexual experience because it is so widespread and people who have HPV often do not know it. Research has shown that 30% of girls with just one partner had HPV by the end of one year. By the end of a three-year period, 50% of girls in a monogamous relationship had HPV.

Recently, the CDC released a study showing that one in four girls aged 14-19 studied had an STD. HPV was the most common STD found, with 18% of the girls having HPV at the time of the study. More than 50% of sexually active men and women have HPV at some point in their lives. The only sure way to avoid the risk of HPV is sexual abstinence. Condoms can only prevent up to 70% of the risk of transmission.

See also: Response to a similar question from the parent of a 14-year-old from KidsHealth.org parents site.

Is HPV really such a big deal? Is it serious?

There are many different strains of HPV being passed among the sexually active population. Some of these strains are considered “high-risk” and others considered “low-risk.” High-risk strains can lead to several cancers:

  • In women: cervical cancer
  • In men: anal, rectal and penile cancers (rare)
  • In men and women: head and neck cancers from oral HPV, new research is pointing to an HPV influence in some lung cancers, and new findings may show that HPV is a precursor to other conditions as well

The most noteworthy side effect from low-risk HPV is genital warts, which are treatable, but often result in embarrassment to the person who has them. Methods used to eliminate them can be quite uncomfortable and there is no guarantee that they will not return.

What if this vaccine encourages my child to be promiscuous?

If the vaccine is given to young girls (9-12), a detailed explanation need not be given as to what the shot is meant to protect. Getting this vaccine does not necessitate a discussion about sex earlier than a parent is comfortable. The recommended administration age of 11-12 coincides with other vaccines.

With older children (13-18), care should be taken to explain that this vaccine does not protect them from any of the other prevalent STDs, nor does it mean that there are any less risks in choosing to have sex. Knowing the truth about the vaccine can help to prevent any misconceptions teens may have about protection offered by the vaccine.

Also, it is doubtful, based on current statistics, that the possibility of getting an STD is really that much of a deterrent for an eager teenager. A recent Washington Post article quoted teens commenting on the recent statistics of high STD rates in young people. One teen summarized the mentality of teenage sex, "It's 'What am I going to enjoy right now?'" This type of reflection does not make it sound as though getting an STD preventive vaccine would even factor into the decision. How you lead by example and how you train your children will have a greater impact than avoiding the vaccine.

How do I communicate with my teen about STDs/sex?

Studies have shown that when youth feel they can talk to their parents about sex, they tend to delay initiating sexual intercourse. Teens are surrounded by messages about sex: TV, movies, ads, the Internet, etc. The message they receive may not be what you as a parent would tell them. You have an opportunity to let them know what you think. Sex education begins at home.

Here are several helpful links that encourage dialogue between parents and teens about sexual choices:

Why is the recommended age for the vaccine so young? I feel uncomfortable vaccinating my young girl for a sexually transmitted disease.

  • The vaccine is most effective when it is given before a girl has sex. While this age varies, the younger a girl, the higher the chance that she has not been exposed to any strain of HPV.
  • The age of administration is meant to coordinate with other recommended vaccines to adolescents (ex: Tdap and Meningococcus) making it more convenient.
  • There are also biological reasons that the age of recommendation is young:
    • Young girls have been shown to have a higher immune response to the vaccine than older girls, offering the potential for better protection.
    • Research suggests that the immature cervix is more susceptible to HPV infection should a girl choose to be sexually active at a young age.

I consider myself conservative. What are influential conservative groups saying about the vaccine?