Nearly half of U.S. adults have HPV

However, vaccination in childhood can protect later in life

If you haven’t talked to your child’s pediatrician yet about the HPV vaccination, it’s time to get the conversation on the radar.

According to new statistics, nearly half of the adults in the United States have contracted HPV, a sexuallytransmitted disease that can cause a host of issues later in life, including cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 45 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 to 59 had some form of HPV, and about 25 percent of men and 20 percent of women had strains with a higher risk of cancer.

Stop and think about that number for a moment. Twenty percent of Americans carry a virus that can potentially cause cancer.

It’s a serious concern, and one that we can take action against, thanks to HPV vaccinations.

HPV — the human papillomavirus — is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, according to the CDC.

Nearly 14 million new infections occur annually. In the majority of cases, the CDC reports, the virus goes away over time, and doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, the virus can cause throat, tonsil, anal, vaginal, penile and cervical cancers, as well as genital warts.

It’s not a subject most like to think about, but the risk is real.

However, it is possible to mitigate those risks. The first step is having honest conversations with our children about the risks of unprotected sexual contact, and the importance of safe sex and abstinence.

And the second step is getting HPV vaccinations for children, which the CDC recommends start between the ages of 11 and 12. Why so young? The CDC says the key is to vaccinate children before they are sexually active.

It’s unsettling for many parents to think about, but the reality is, it’s a vaccination that saves lives, and instills protection for our children that will last well into adulthood.

When the CDC releases statistics about the prevalence of HPV today, parents need to step back for a moment and consider their options to protect their children.

After all, we vaccinate against the flu, chicken pox and the mumps. The HPV vaccine is one more layer to keep them safe well into adulthood.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?