Often criticized and controversial, the vaccination of young girls with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the virus responsible for 70% of cervical cancers, is accused of pushing young adolescent girls to have risky sexual behavior. By feeling protected from cervical cancer uterus thanks to the vaccine, young girls would be more negligent in the face of sexually transmitted diseases.
But according to a Canadian scientific study published on December 8 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, in truth it is not.
To crunch this unfounded fear, the researchers collected data on 128,712 grade 4 girls (14-15 years old), eligible for HPV vaccination, in the first two years it was offered (2007 to 2009 ). This “eligible” sample was then compared with that of 131,781 young girls in 4th year two years before the start of vaccinations (2005 to 2007).
Each young girl was followed for an average of 4.5 years, and indicators of the girl’s risky sexual behavior were assessed, such as pregnancy or pregnancy. sexually transmitted infections.
An unjustified fear that slows down vaccination
The results of the study showed that 6% of young girls vaccinated engaged in risky sexual behavior from grade 2 to 12. Of these, 10,187 became pregnant, and 6,259 had sexually transmitted infections.
But if these figures may seem alarming, scientists point out that they only concern a small proportion of the initial sample. No significant link has been established between HPV vaccine and increased risky sexual behavior.
“These results suggest that fears of an increase in risky sexual behavior after HPV vaccination are unwarranted, and should not be an obstacle to vaccination at a young age” insist the researchers.
“Neither HPV vaccination nor vaccination program eligibility increases the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection in girls aged 14 to 17,” they added.
The researchers are calling on doctors, healthcare providers and even policy makers to use this large-scale study to address public and parental concerns about immunization against the disease. papillomavirus.
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