Should Girls Who Aren't Sexually Active Be Vaccinated Against
HPV? I've heard about the HPV 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 person becomes sexually active. Some strains of
HPV that are spread through sexual contact are known to cause
cervical cancer, as well as cancers of the penis, anus, mouth,
and throat. Recent research suggests that HPV might even be
linked to cardiovascular disease in women. HPV is extremely
common, affecting more than half of sexually active people at
some point in their lives, often in their teens and twenties.
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 cancer years
later. It is now recommended that both girls and b