As a parent, you are always trying to be sure that you do everything possible to keep your daughter healthy and safe. Because of this, you pay close attention to all medical care and immunization services your daughter receives. One of the vaccines you may be unsure about is one that is only recommended rather than required. The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is an immunization that, when your family practice doctor brings up, may seem worrisome. Get to know some of the important facts about the HPV vaccine so that you can make the best decision for your daughter.
What Is HPV?
HPV, also known as human papillomavirus, is a viral infection that can be transmitted through sexual contact. There are numerous different strains of HPV, much like there are different strains of the flu. Some strains of HPV can cause visible symptoms such as genital warts, while others can go undetected.
While genital warts are unsightly, they do not usually cause any other serious health complications. However, HPV strains may also be responsible for the development of cervical cancer in women as well as other cancers of the reproductive organs in both men and women.
What Does The HPV Vaccine Do?
The HPV vaccine is designed with the strains of this virus that cause cancer in both men and women in mind. Much like other vaccines, the HPV vaccine is designed to introduce a small and controlled amount of the virus into the body so that the person's immune system will develop natural antibodies against it.
These antibodies, in turn, will prevent the person who has been vaccinated from becoming infected with the virus if they are ever exposed to the virus later in life. In the case of HPV, the strains that are known to cause cervical and other cancers are the strains targeted.
Should You Get Your Daughter Vaccinated?
Many parents worry about vaccinating their child against a sexually transmitted disease because they feel it may encourage teenage sexual activity or give them a license to be reckless. However, this is not the purpose of the vaccine.
The reason that it is recommended to get vaccinated so early is that the vaccine is only effective prior to exposure to the virus. As such, adolescents between the ages of 11 and 12 are prime candidates for vaccination. Doctors do not recommend that women over the age of 26 receive the vaccine.
By choosing to have your daughter receive their vaccination as early as possible, you will be protecting her from contracting those strains in the future. While you may want your child to wait to become sexually active until marriage, you cannot fully control her actions. As such, earlier vaccination is the surest way to be sure you are providing her with the best possible protection.
Add to that the fact that almost all forms of cervical cancer are caused by HPV and you can understand why getting vaccinated is so important for any young woman. If you do not feel comfortable having your daughter vaccinated at the early age of 11 or 12, they can still receive the vaccine until they are 26 years old. If you choose not to vaccinate your daughter right away, encourage them to request the vaccine themselves before they become sexually active.
Now that you know more about HPV and the HPV vaccine, you can decide if you are going to schedule your daughter's immunization appointment and contact their doctor as soon as possible for immunization services if you do decide to get them the vaccine.
To learn more, contact a company like Valley Medical Care.
Share
