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A little quibble: why is this segment called "Girl Trouble"? Seems like one of those times when a cute title is inappropriate.

How is it that we can help our children when often adults are not informed about the matters of STD's, the prevalence of infection and protection. Until men receive the same proactive care that women have with their gynecologists I am not sure this will change, the availability of STD tests for men and women is evident in this.

Brian - I hope you will do more shows to explore this topic.

One can contract different strains of HPV over time, and never develop cervical cancer. But much can be said about repeated exposures and how immunity is compromised by so many things, that having the vaccine provides a false sense of security, given my first point/paragraph.

Net, once one has engaged in ANY level of sexual contact--oral, coital, whatever--it is usually too late to vaccinate effectively (hence the "need" for early uptake). Booster shots will be needed during one's teen years, as well, because it has not yet been ascertained how long the effect of the vaccine remains in the body.

Good point about testing boys, who are the vectors (carriers) of things like HPV--they are more immune than girls. and tend to spread the disease over contracting it.

The pharmaceutical companies decided, based on preliminary consumer and doctor forums, that telling the parents of 9-year olds that they need to begin early to vaccinate against HPV would be polarizing, and discouraging of uptake, because the chidhood vaccine schedule is huge from ages 1-5, AND most parents don't believe there's a need to do anything about a child's potential sex life until much older. Because the disease burden is more often carried by girls, pharmacos felt that they were the widest, initial net to cast. Equally, this preliminary research made them decide to couch the conversation in cervical cancer, rather than HPV as a sexually-transmitted disease--less polarizing for parents.

dorothea: condoms come with diagrams how to put it on. besides, its not exactly splitting the atom.

So many STDs are contracted by people having oral varieties of sex, oftentimes long before coital sex (think of teens who are doing "everything but"). Many people don't believe you can get anything by mouth to genital contact, and that fact is sorely missing from the conversation. In this case, condoms would be helpful, but no one thinks they're necessary unless they're having coital sex. We hear adults object to using condoms and dental dams because of inconvenience, taste, sensitivity issues--the same issues that keep many from using them for coital sex. So how can we get teens to be this proactive if adults won't adhere to these safety measures?

Average of sexual onset (ANY sexual contact) in the U.S. is 12 years. The age is higher, like 15 years in Western Europe.

As we discuss vaccination for boys, let's not forget that HPV gives gay men anal warts that become anal cancer. Of course, nobody wants to talk about this in the media or the public health arena. If talking about vaccinating young ostensibly heterosexual girls in political dynamite, imagine talking about vaccinating young boys so when they grow up to have sex with other men they will be protected!

Please, please talk about being anonymous. Is there an assurance that if you get tested that you won't appear on some list and have your name transmitted to some agency. Anonymous, I mean completely anonymous testing and reporting is very important

I read an article in the NY Times about the HPV vaccine and that it can be used to vaccinate males as well as females but is not being offered for males in this country. I would like to know if this is the case and if so why is it the case? I would like to get vaccinated even if I can't get cervical cancer I don't want to be spreading a disease around.

According to my obgyn, everyone who has sex has HPV. If it does show up in testing, the body will usually clear it out over a year or so. Sometimes though it will turn into something more serious, which is why you should keep on top of monitoring. You will become immune to the strand you have.

Is the HPV vaccine a multi dose or live vaccine that might contain Thiomersal (mercury)?

how can we believe the accuracy of this study? I remember hearingf a study a few years ago that made a correlation that 1/3rd of Black men were HIV+. Thats in itself is absolutely ludicrous to believe. Its fear mongering at its best. In reality, it became known that of the homeless Black male population in Los Angeles, 33% of them were HIV+. Its a long way to extrapolate a sample with the general population. How do you really know that 25% of adolescent females have a STD? To me this sounds like one of them Drug-Free America ad campaigns. Presenting junk science as fact to get a rise out of people and get more funding for their right-wing programs.
Now mind you I m not saying that you shouldnt use precautionary measures when having sexual contact with others. But I m tired of hearing these slippery slope "Chicken Little" arguments where we are to believe the world is coming to an end. And if someone sneezes on you in the subway you automatically have contracted Ebola or SARS.

Abstinence only works in a society that promotes it. How's it supposed to work in a society in which sexuality is so much in focus?

Thanks for the free condoms NYC, I'm a happy user of them. I also give them to any friends from abroad that visit, they're a huge tourist hit.

This just further illustrates how important comprehensive sexual education is for both genders.

I would recommend the "Our Whole Lives (OWL)" program which was originally developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ - http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/

I hope that whoever is the new president they end this nightmarish situation regarding sex-ed in this country. Our current situation, especially the "abstinence only" programs is shameful and dangerous. Let's look at the sex ed programs around the world and copy the best. A friend in Sweden had her first sex ed. class in third grade and it included banana shaped objects. Interesting that teen pregnancy and std rates in Sweden are far far lower than us. Our culture of ignorance and ignoring facts must end.

My pediatrician would like to see BOYS vaccinated.
Why do women always have to bear the burden?

Since Health Teachers aren't allowed to "show" classes how to properly use a condom (no banana or penis shaped items allowed), even those who demand to use one may not understand the proper manner of use. Pathetic.

Kids have such warped ideas about sex and risks that it's no wonder STDs are so prevalent.

We, as a society, need to not be judgemental of people with STDs and be compassionate and caring. We need to teach use of contraceptives, how to use them and give them access to condoms and not encourage a culture of people whom if a young girl has a problem can't go to a trusted adult because they are so judgemental.

Please don't have this conversation without discussing the health of teenage boys as well. These girls aren't getting the diseases from each other!