Disease Prevention & Vaccines

Adolescent Vaccines & Disease Prevention at Mary Washington Healthcare

At Mary Washington Healthcare, we provide a broad range of services for adolescents in our community. This includes vaccinations and education regarding disease prevention. Schedule an appointment with a doctor at Mary Washington Hospital to learn more.

Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), approximately 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur in the United States each year. About half of these patients are between the ages of 15 and 24.

Some types of STDs include:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes
• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea

Ask your child’s doctor about how to help protect your adolescent child from contracting STDs. While abstaining from sexual activity is the best way to avoid contraction of a sexually transmitted disease, there are steps that can be taken to prevent the development of an STD. Regular checkups are also important, particularly for sexually active adolescents, as many STDs—if caught early—can be effectively treated.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is actually a group of over 100 different types of viruses, and it is the most common STD in the U.S. One symptom of HPV is genital warts. They can also lead to cancer. It’s important to schedule regular checkups to ensure early detection of HPV. People who become sexually active at young ages or who have a high number of sexual partners are at higher risk of contracting HPV.

There are currently multiple vaccines available to prevent HPV infections, including Gardasil—which was approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration in 2006—and Cervarix, which received FDA approval in 2009. Both are administered in a series of three separate injections over a period of six months, and should be given before the individual is sexually active or exposed to HPV.

When to Receive the HPV Vaccine

Girls aged 11 to 12 can receive either vaccine. Girls / women aged 13 to 26 can also receive the vaccine if they did not do so at an earlier age or if they did not receive all the shots in their vaccination series. Boys aged 9 to 26 may receive Gardasil prior to becoming sexually active to prevent HPV.

HPV Vaccinations & Cervical Cancer

The American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommend women schedule their first Pap test screening for cervical cancer at age 21. Adolescents who are sexually active are at an increased risk of contracting HPV, which is responsible for causing most types of cervical cancer among other cancers. Women are encouraged to schedule Pap screenings every two to three years between the ages of 21 and 30. The HPV vaccination is also an effective way to prevent the forms of HPV that cause cancer. Adolescents should receive the vaccine before they become sexually active. Ask your doctor if you have questions about when to schedule a Pap test.