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"There&amp;#39;s a potentially life threatening sexually transmitted disease out there, and although there&amp;#39;s a widely accepted and highly effective vaccine for it, a new study shows that nearly a third of doctors aren&amp;#39;t recommending it to preteens. \n\nThe human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common STDs. Almost 25% of people in the United States are currently infected, and if you ever plan to become sexually active in your lifetime, you&amp;#39;re more likely than not to contract it. The most obvious sign that you&amp;#39;re infected is genital warts, which you can have removed, and many untreated cases go away on their own. In some instances, however, untreated cases can lead to certain cancers such as cervical, vaginal, and anal, which is why it&amp;#39;s so important to prevent. It&amp;#39;s also why since 2006 health practitioners have been recommending and administering a powerful tool in fighting the virus \u2014 the vaccine named Gardasil. \n\nHopefully, you&amp;#39;ve heard about this medicine, and as it&amp;#39;s recommended for girls between the ages of 11 to 26, hopefully you&amp;#39;ve had your round of shots. But the findings from this study, which were published on Monday in Pediatrics, revealed troubling results about why doctors are reluctant to bring up the topic with their young patients. \n\nTitled Primary Care Physicians\u2019 Perspectives About HPV Vaccine, the report aimed to figure out how frequently physicians recommended and administered the vaccine, estimate how frequently physicians reported parental deferral of HPV vaccination for their kids, and identify physician and practice characteristics associated with not discussing the HPV vaccine at preteen well-visits. According to the results, an overwhelming majority of pediatricians and family physicians administer the vaccine to both girls and boys. However, when physicians brought up the subject at the 11- or 12-year-old physical, more than 50% reported that over a quarter of parents deferred to vaccinate their kids until later (if at all).  \n\nThe most surprising finding, however, is that while over 80% discuss the vaccine with preteen patients, a third of doctors don\u2019t strongly recommend the shot at the preteen well visit \u2014 citing concerns about patients being too young, not sexually active (and therefore not exposed to the disease), getting other vaccines at the same visit, and parents\u2019 opinions about vaccines. Vaccinations are a hotly debated topic, and some parents have strong feelings against the ones not required by law (like the HPV vaccine). Basically, because doctors assume that parents will defer the vaccine, they don\u2019t bother talking about it with their patients. The authors of the study write, \u201CBecause some physicians could be overestimating the likelihood of parental deferral, they should be encouraged to rethink their assumptions about parental attitudes regarding the HPV vaccine and strongly recommend it at every 11- to 12-year-old well-child visit.\u201D \n\nThe Centers for Disease Control suggests that preteens be vaccinated for the virus, because the more time teens\u2019 immune systems have to produce antibodies against it, the less likely it will be that they contract HPV when they become sexually active. The study suggests that there needs to be more communication between doctors and the CDC.\n\nBoys too are recommended to get this vaccine between the ages of 11 and 21, and as there\u2019s currently no approved test for men, it might be even more important that they&amp;#39;re vaccinated in an effort to prevent them from spreading it to their partners when they&amp;#39;re not showing any symptoms. \n\nIt&amp;#39;s extremely disturbing that doctors are making potentially life threatening assumptions about their patients&amp;#39; health, but hopefully, this study will push them to speak more openly about HPV, and other potential STDs. \n\nRelated:  Schools in America Are Skipping This Very Important Lesson In Sex Ed Classes\n\nCheck out Teen Vogue\u2019s December/January issue cover star, Fernanda Ly.\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/doctors-not-recommending-hpv-vaccine-preteens>