I am a 12 year old girl I have a question about that injection against cervical cancer. You need that shot before you are sexually active. Does that include masturbating too?

Answer

Cervical cancer is seen almost exclusively after chronic infection of the cervix with some types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the incidence of this cancer by vaccination against these viruses. Infection is acquired through direct contact of the cervix with virus, usually through unprotected penile penetration during sexual activity. It cannot be ruled out that also through hands or objects, if they have been recently stained after contact with fluids from contaminated genitals, transmission of HPV between persons is possible (male-female or female-female). Infecting oneself is virtually impossible without direct contact with another person, as a carrier of the virus is required and the HPV types involved are less associated with skin infection or warts.

The argument to vaccinate at the age of twelve is based on the relatively rare occurrence of previous sexual contact with another person, so that one can work preventively. However, even after a possible exposure of the bcervix to the virus, vaccination remains useful because not all infections become chronic and they usually elicit too little immunity to protect against a subsequent infection. For economic reasons, reimbursement in Flanders is limited to twelve-year-olds.

Conclusion: masturbation only poses a limited risk if a second person is involved, so that the virus can be introduced into the vagina. In any case, vaccination remains useful, even if exposure to the virus has already occurred.