Controversy involving the humanpapilloma virus (HPV) vaccine has been steadily making news headlines over the past several months. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that, in several cases, had lead to cervical cancer.

While some individuals have argued that the HPV vaccine should be distributed equally to both boys and girls alike, others argue that the preferred approach should be to focus the vaccination efforts solely on a single sex.

All medical experts and physicians agree, however, that the HPV vaccine is not a replacement for safe sex. Unfortunately, a recent study shows that many young women and girls are not aware of this fact, putting them at greater risk of contracting a variety of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) other than HPV.

The Limitations of the HPV Vaccine in Combating the Various STDs

Two of the most popular HPV vaccines include Cervarix from GlaxoSmithKline and Gardasil from Merck. Both Cervarix and Gardasil are designed primarily to prevent the user from contracting HPV. As a bonus, Gardasil protects the user from certain types of genital warts.

However, this is where the capabilities of both vaccines end. Contrary to the beliefs of some, HPV vaccines do not protect against HIV (which causes AIDS), gonorrhea or syphilis, STDs that are more serious and even deadly in comparison to HPV. In addition, HPV vaccines are worthless when it comes to treating active HPV infections. Rather, they can only prevent HPV, another fact frequently misunderstood by those seeking the vaccines.

The Nature of the Study

The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center recently conducted a study to determine whether recipients of the HPV vaccine understood its purposes and limitations. During the study, Dr. Tanya Kowalczyk Mullins and other researchers distributed questionnaires to 339 females ranging in age from 13 to 21. All of the women had recently received their very first HPV vaccine treatment.

Fortunately, most of those surveyed understood the risks of unsafe sex and the limitations of the HPV vaccine. However, nearly a quarter (23.6%) of the adolescent females believed that receiving the HPV vaccine would reduce their risk of contracting STDs in general.

The girls falling into this group typically had a few other things in common:

• They were generally less informed about HPV infections and the vaccine itself.

• They weren’t as concerned about contracting HPV as their peers.

• They didn’t use a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse.

The Importance of HPV Vaccine Education

According to Dr. Mullins and her colleagues, the findings of the study indicate that young people could benefit from additional education regarding the HPV vaccine, as well as the science behind sexually transmitted diseases in general. In particular, Mullins says that the most important thing to know is that the HPV vaccine does not protect against STDs other than HPV.

The study did have its limitations, chief of which was the fact that all of those surveyed belonged to the same clinic in an urban, low-income neighborhood. As such, young women belonging to the general population may have a better understanding of the HPV vaccine’s limitations than those involved in the study.

HPV Vaccine: The Bottom Line

The HPV vaccine will not cure or treat any existing diseases or conditions, nor will it protect against any STDs beyond HPV, such as HIV, syphilis or gonorrhea. The only purpose of the HPV vaccine is to protect against the contraction of HPV. It is by no means a replacement for safe sex.

Unfortunately, a recent study shows that up to a quarter of young women do not fully understand these facts. If you’re the parent of an adolescent daughter, it’s important to provide her with information and education regarding the HPV vaccine.