Vaccination against the sexually transmitted infection doesn’t encourage teen sex

Washington, Sept 18: Texas Gov. Rick Perry's attempt to mandate that girls get vaccinated against the sexually transmitted infection HPV was disapproved by the country's legislature after conservative Republican presidential candidates argued that the vaccine would encourage teen sex.

But experts say the argument is not correct, insisting that there's no evidence that a shot will lead to promiscuity.

HPV (human papilloma virus) is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer.

"Teenagers, by and large, have sex episodically. It has much more to do with opportunity than it does with a vaccination, for heaven's sake," Bill Albert, a spokesman for The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, told Live Science.

In addition, Albert said teen sexual activity has been decreasing over the last four years.

There have not been direct studies on the effect of HPV vaccination on teen sexual decisions, Albert said, but dropping rates of sexual activity since the vaccine's introduction suggest that the injections aren't causing teens to throw caution to the wind.

"It hasn't had the undesired effect yet," he added.