There has been a large breakthrough in children’s vaccinations by the nation’s largest pediatrician group! The new vaccination schedules were published for children in America and they found, boys now too should be inoculated starting at ages 11-12, ”because new data showed giving boys the vaccine can help lessen the odds of HPV-associated cancers in men and in women, said Dr. H. Cody Meissner, chief of pediatric infectious disease at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.”
In 2007 young girls began getting their vaccinations against HPV, a series of 3 shots over a six month period of time. While the vaccinations do not completely prevent men and women from getting HPV, it has been known to protect against genital warts in both men and women. Recent evidence shows that the vaccine may also help prevent anal, penile, neck and head cancers too.
These vaccinations are now being offered to boys ages 11-12, which is also the age that girls are recommended to get it as well. “HPV vaccinations are also advised for young men ages 13 to 21 if they’ve not yet had all three shots. It may be given to boys as young as 9 and to men between 22 and 26.”
HPV Human Papillomavirus is contracted easily. So easily it can be received from genital touching. According to the CDC, “HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact.” You may use condoms during intercourse, but most people do not use protection during oral sex although they should. In fact, oral HPV is now becoming a lot more common than many doctors and scientists ever expected it to be, particularly in men.
HPV is now said to be affecting 3 out of 4 women, and at least 80% of women will have HPV at some point in their lifetime. Petrifying. This is a huge percentage and definitely raises eyebrows and should raise awareness. The main problem with HPV is that there is currently no test for men, so we don’t know if men have it until they’ve given it to a woman, and she’s tested positive. Moreover, just because men can’t get tested for it, does not mean it doesn’t affect them as well.
It’s great to see that pediatricians are recommending the vaccinations for young boys and girls. Hopefully this will help control the spread of HPV, so as to make it less dangerous for sexually active beings. We should not stop having sex, we should not stop experimenting, but we should start to become more aware and educated about our sexual health and how we put ourselves at risk. Part of the problem is that people tend to believe that oral sex, and genital touching are not forms of sex, when in reality they are. Just because it isn’t putting a P in a V does not mean it isn’t sexually related. No one is saying you shouldn’t have sex, and experiment, but it is important to understand the responsibility you take on when you become sexually involved with anyone. Condoms do help protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, but they don’t necessarily protect you from HPV. I don’t know about you, but genital warts does not sound yummy, not to mention cervical, anal, oral, penile, neck and throat cancers are quite scary too.
Next time you contemplate getting a blow job, or as some guys I know call it, “a whopper,” going down on a girl, having sexual intercourse, or as I like to call it now, fornicating, or anything related below the belly button, think about whether or not you’re fully ready to be responsible for your actions. Whether you like that person enough, to risk your sexual health that will affect you for the rest of your life. Like Dr. Ruth tweeted recently, “Have a lot of sex, but have it with a steady partner.” I couldn’t agree more with the grandma.
Remember, we only have one body, take care of it.
Stay safe and sexy people, or Just Blau Me.
Read more:
3 Changes to Children’s Vaccine Recommendations Announced
