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Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination holds great promise for drastically reducing the incidence of HPV-associated cancers of the genital tract, and possibly also certain head and neck cancers. Unfortunately, rates of HPV vaccine utilization among adolescents are low in many countries. Many research studies have identified the fact that HPV is a sexually transmitted infection as a barrier to higher vaccination rates. This is related to providers’ and parents’ reluctance to discuss or consider the burgeoning sexuality of their child. An approach suggested to overcome this barrier is to “desexualize” the vaccine. This entails focusing discussions and public messages on the cancer-preventing properties of the vaccine and ignoring or minimizing information about HPV’s sexual transmissibility. In an article by Velan and Yadgar, the authors argue that this approach does more harm than good. This associated commentary offers a slightly different viewpoint from one who has been “in the trenches” both clinically and from a research standpoint for many years.
Highlights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination holds great promise for drastically reducing the incidence of HPV-associated cancers of the genital tract, and possibly certain head and neck cancers
The opposite is often true – these are the parents that have typically already had these discussions with their children by the time they are eligible for HPV vaccination! In these parents’ minds HPV vaccination is an extremely minor, or even irrelevant, part of their overall approach to educating their children about sexual health. Another rationale given in the article for the potential harm in desexualizing HPV vaccine discussions is that it obviates the opportunity to discuss the “dangers of male homosexuality” with adolescent boys that may have these sexual inclinations
Discussions about how to protect oneself against HPV exposure need to be provided in the broader context of overall sexual health and sexually transmitted disease prevention
Summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination holds great promise for drastically reducing the incidence of HPV-associated cancers of the genital tract, and possibly certain head and neck cancers. Though the reasons parents give for not wanting their adolescent vaccinated are multiple, one concern that has been raised by many is the fact that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. In response to this concern, many have advocated focusing HPV vaccine discussions on cancer prevention, and minimizing the sexual aspects of the infection.
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