The latest in a long line of reasons why not to get vaccinated against the HPV virus has been proved wrong. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has carried out a survey which showed that females who have been vaccinated against the virus are not more likely to have unprotected sex than those who are not vaccinated, contrary to popular opinion. 1,200 young women between the ages of 15 and 24 were surveyed.

In fact, the sexually active women in the group who had been vaccinated against HPV were more likely to use a condom during sex consistently than women who were not vaccinated.

The CDC also say that this is the case for now however the survey does not suggest that the HPV vaccination would not have such an effect over time.

Gardasil has now been announced as the new first line vaccine against the virus in the UK from next September, protecting young women against both cancer causing strains of the HPV virus and those causing genital warts. If campaigners get their way, Gardasil might be made available to males on the NHS as well but we think that this is unlikely to happen soon.