HPV Vaccination Pose No Greater Risk Of STIs In Teenage Girls
IN PHOTO: Nancy Brajtbord, RN, (L) administers a shot of gardasil,... more reuters.com

Adolescent girls who received vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV) are not at a greater risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than unvaccinated girls of the same age group, says Amy Orciari Herman in a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The STIs included in the study were Herpes, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and AIDS.

The study was carried out with the help of the US medical claim database of vaccinated and unvaccinated girls with STIs between 12 and 18 years from 2005 through 2010, reports the researcher. About 20,000 girls vaccinated with quadrivalent HPV were studied in reference to 185,000 unvaccinated girls who reportedly lived in the same region and had similar insurance plans.

Increase in the STIs rate among the vaccinated group after a year of vaccination was observed in the study. On a thorough research, it was found that the rate of STIs was increased in the unvaccinated group as well in that particular year. Comparing the results of the study suggests that there is no difference in the rate of STIs between unvaccinated and vaccinated groups, reports the investigator. An overall increase in the STIs rate among both groups suggests an increase in the sexual activity among girls starting that period and not of vaccination.

A steep increase in the STIs rate would have been observed if the HPV vaccination had increased the sexual activity among vaccinated girls, said Seth Seabury, an associate professor of research at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He also added that with the results, it is evident that the vaccination had not encouraged the girls to indulge in unsafe sexual practices.

The increase in the sexual activity among girls is a part of the normal maturation process and not because of the HPV vaccination, just as reported in the study, said Dr Anna Wald of NEJM Journal Watch Women's Health.

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: saranya@ibtimes.com.au