HPV Vaccine Does Not Lead To Risky Sexual Behaviors In Teen Girls.

Getting a vaccine for one sexually-transmitted disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), does not lead teen girls to throw sexual caution to the wind and end up with other infections, a new study says. The study addresses a fear that may be contributing to low HPV vaccination rates, researchers say. The first HPV vaccine became available in 2006. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a series of three shots for girls and boys ages 11-12 and for older teens and young adults who are not yet vaccinated. The shots protect against common HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer, genital warts and other diseases. They work best when given before teens become sexually active, the CDC says. As of 2013, the latest figures available, just 38% of girls and 14% of boys ages 13 to 17 had been fully vaccinated. The vaccine has not been recommended for boys as long as it has been for girls. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/09/hpv-vaccine-sex/22998833/