What You Need to Know About the HPV Vaccination

By Mary Parman, D.O.


Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the Unites States, and studies have shown that women and men in their late teens to early 20s are at greatest risk. In fact, 40 percent of HPV infections occur in people who have only been sexually active for two years. HPV is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact and is strongly associated with cervical cancer and genital warts. There are approximately 40 HPV strains that can infect the genital tissues of men and women.

How does this relate to my child?

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine Gardisil for the prevention of cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions and genital warts. Experts on the vaccine recommend that it be given to girls/women between the ages of nine and 26 – with the target age being 11 to 12 years..... Learn more by going to our Web site for the entire article

http://www.pamf.org/children/newsletter/2008/0608hpv.html