HPV Vaccine Does Not Increase Promiscuity in Girls

Despite cries and warnings from conservatives, the vaccine that prevents most strains of the sexually-transmitted disease human papillomavirus does not increase the chances that girls who receive the treatment will become sexually active, says a new study.

The study of nearly 1,400 girls by Kaiser Permanante showed no difference in rates of doctors visits correlated with sexual activity between girls who received the vaccine and those who didn't.

Parental fears of promoting promiscuity have led to low rates of adoption of the potentially-lifesaving vaccine. More than 80 percent of sexually-active adults will contract HPV, a virus that can cause genital warts and often leads to deadly cervical cancer in women.

One-third of girls ages 13 to 19 has contracted HPV.

Doctors have struggled to convince parents to vaccinate their young teenagers, both boys and girls. The vaccine works best if received long before a child becomes sexually active.

"I realize it's probably more about my squeamishness with the thought of her becoming sexually active than the vaccination itself," said Julie Stewart, a parent reluctant to vaccinate her preteen daughter, speaking to National Public Radio.

"It's not the science. I think it's my own issues around her developing sexually," she said.

"Some parents are concerned that saying 'yes' to the HPV vaccine is also encouraging teenagers to say 'yes' to sex," said Dr. Carol Ford, chief of adolescent medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, speaking to ABC News.

The vaccine protects against the most dangerous strains of HPV, but does nothing to prevent pregnancy and does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Not all parents, whatever their thoughts about teenage sex, are against vaccination. "We talk about remaining chaste until they get married, but there's always the possibility that one bad choice could lead to devastating consequences," said Coni Butler, who had both her daughters vaccinated, speaking to The New York Times.

"I tell my friends that you pray for the best, but you plan for the worst."