My daughter is 11 and her pediatrician wants her to get the cervical cancer vaccine. Is this is a good idea? Is it better to wait?
It is a good idea, and there is no reason to wait. The vaccine provides protection against human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which affects more than 10,000 women annually. In some persons, the infection causes genital warts or leads to cancer of the genital area skin.
HPV typically is passed from person to person by contact during sexual activities such as intercourse or touching of the genital area. Condoms do not appear to prevent this from occurring. Girls or women who do not have intercourse, but do engage in sexual activity, are still at risk.
Although Pap smears prevent deaths by detecting early cancer or precancerous changes, it's best to prevent the infection before it causes a problem. For this reason, vaccination is recommended for girls and young women. The vaccine used in the United States is for females aged 9 to 26. The goal is to vaccinate prior to first sexual contact. Vaccinating at age 11 makes this goal much easier to achieve. It also increases the chances that the vaccination will be completed in a timely fashion. (Doses are required two and six months after the first dose.)
The vaccine has been used for many years and administered to many millions of women and girls. It can be painful, but is extremely safe. We do not know how effective it will be over a lifetime at this point, but we do know that it prevents infection and cancerous type changes for years after use. It's important to note, however, that Pap smears are still advised after age 18 even if the vaccine has been administered.
