The science on vaccines is clear: They save millions of lives and protect our children from the pain and damage that measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tuberculosis and more can cause. So when my son's doctor suggested he get the HPV vaccination, why did I hesitate?
HPV is different than the other aforementioned diseases because it's not passed by casual contact. It's not highly contagious in the way that measles can infect a person two hours after the germ carrier leaves the area. HPV is transmitted only through intercourse and oral sex, so it doesn't seem as random.
If one contracts HPV, it's not apparent immediately and might never be an issue. Most HPV infections go away on their own within two years. Plus, there are more than a hundred strains of HPV, and the vast majority pose little risk for genital warts, cervical cancer, throat cancer and a variety of other rare cancers. It's statistically unlikely my son will ever need the protection offered by the vaccination.
The human papilloma virus (HPV) affects nearly 80 million people in the United States. The virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact or through sexual activity. Although HPV will often go away on its own, certain types can cause cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that can protect children, women, and men from HPV-related diseases. The recommendation is for preteen girls and boys to receive the vaccine around age 11 or 12. This ensures that they’re protected against HPV before they’re likely to have exposure to the virus. You can get the vaccine up until age 26.
Still, cervical and throat cancers are killers. Radiation and chemotherapy have severe side effects. Genital warts aren't deadly but yuck.
Vaccinating my son would help protect him and every woman he ever becomes intimate with. And my hope as a parent is that he would always want to provide all the safety he can to a woman (or partner not judging!) with whom he's intimate. When I had the sex talk with him (there were actually several as he matured), safety, caring and commitment were always part of the conversation.......
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