Genital human papilloma virus, adolescent and vaccine: a mini-review

Abstract

Genital human papillomavirus HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, involving men and women of all ages, and is associated with poor health outcomes. Particularly during adolescence, this health problem assumes greater proportions due to the behavioral characteristics of adolescents, which make them a person at high risk of contracting this infection. As they are in the process of physical, emotional, sexual, and social maturation, adolescents exhibit risky behaviors due to the beginning of sexual activities driven by pubertal development, most of the time without proper preventive guidance, which predisposes them to contact with several viral and bacterial pathogens. Characteristics such as impulsiveness, indifference to risks and dangers, feeling of invulnerability, motivation to explore and seek novelty, and the need to face challenges and challenge rules and models, are part of the adolescent’s emotional development process, whose maturation is established as the limbic system and prefrontal cortex establish their role in controlling emotions. In addition, the possibility of relating to many partners with alternative sexual behaviors, the absence of circumcision, and the non-use of condoms contribute to increasing the risk of many infections. Given this scenario, it is essential that all the circumstances related to HPV, the vaccine, and the difficulties of its wide coverage are known, so that measures are implemented that aim to offer greater protection to the most vulnerable population.