Human papillomavirus vaccine increases high-risk sexual behaviors: a myth or valid concern.
In 2006, the first human pappilomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved for females aged 9 to 26. However, the national HPV vaccination rate among young women has been low. Public concerns were raised in regard to the fact that HPV vaccination might encourage unsafe sex. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in sexual practices between college women who have and have not obtained the HPV vaccine. Participants were 209 vaccinees and 175 nonvaccinees. A web-based survey was used. Sexual practices (numbers of sexual partners in a lifetime and in the past 12 months, condom use, condom use frequency) were not significantly different between the two groups. Among the vaccinees, the numbers of sexual partners before and after vaccination was also not significantly different. School nurses are at the frontier to advise young girls/parents on HPV vaccination before the girls engage in sexual intercourse. They may utilize these findings to address the misunderstanding that HPV vaccination encourages unsafe sex.
['Ratanasiripong|Nop T|NT|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D030361:Papillomavirus Infections D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines D012309:Risk-Taking D012725:Sexual Behavior D013334:Students D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014481:United States D014495:Universities D047568:Unsafe Sex D055815:Young Adult
human papillomavirus sexual behavior HPV vaccine