Why I Chose to Vaccinate My Son Against HPV

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I was thirteen when I experienced my first kiss. My crush, a boy from the neighborhood, was a year older and would timidly knock on my door, asking if I wanted to stroll through the quiet streets after school. We would walk hand in hand, sharing the typical musings of thirteen-year-olds, feeling a bit like we were sneaking around, even though our romance was mostly fueled by a mutual obsession with Def Leppard.

One sunny autumn day, he surprised me by stopping in the middle of the street and kissing me. Our braces clashed, and I could smell the overwhelming scent of his Binaca spray. It was a delightful moment, and I wished I could freeze time right there, with his Drakkar Noir cologne lingering in the air. I also wished I knew how to kiss better!

Fast forward to today, and my son is now navigating his own version of thirteen. The idea of him having his first kiss is looming large in my mind. Like it or not, he’s going to start exploring his sexuality soon — if he hasn’t already — and I must confront the reality that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) pose real risks. As a parent, it’s my responsibility to ensure he’s prepared to protect his own health and that of his future partners.

This is why I made the decision to vaccinate him against the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex and is a known cause of cervical and throat cancers. It’s not just a women’s issue; men can contract it too and unknowingly pass it on. The Centers for Disease Control reports that HPV affects 79 million people in the U.S., with 14 million new infections each year. Men are at a heightened risk of spreading it and also risk developing genital warts, which impact 360,000 sexually active individuals annually.

Fortunately, the HPV vaccine is an effective preventive measure. If I’m teaching my son about safe sex practices, like wearing condoms, why wouldn’t I also vaccinate him against a preventable STD? After reviewing the statistics, I’d much rather see him get a quick series of three shots than watch him grapple with a sexually transmitted infection that’s tough to treat.

We decided to get him vaccinated at the age of twelve because, in today’s world, it’s simply the right thing to do. From a young age, we’ve instilled values of respect and courtesy in him. As a big brother, he’s learned to treat women with kindness, holding doors open, pulling out chairs, and even bringing flowers on dates. He understands that respect is shown through actions and words.

If we’re teaching him to be a gentleman, we must also ensure he knows how to be respectful when it comes to sexual relationships. We’ve had honest conversations about consent and the importance of ensuring both partners’ pleasure. To the surprise of some friends, I’ve told him that if he experiences pleasure, he should make sure his partner does too. Orgasms should be a shared experience, after all!

By discussing these values, I also made sure he knows about HPV. Being a gentleman goes beyond just chivalry; it means caring enough about his partners to help prevent cervical cancer by getting vaccinated. It’s a small but significant step that reflects good sense all around.

Getting my son the HPV vaccine is the least I can do for the mothers of the girls he may eventually date. I can’t imagine any mother not being grateful for my efforts to prevent their child from potentially facing cervical cancer. Likewise, I would appreciate a parent doing the same for my son’s safety. No parent wants to lose a child to something preventable.

Some have asked if we gave our son a choice in this matter, and to be honest, we didn’t. We did, however, have an open discussion about HPV, how it spreads, and why the vaccine is beneficial for him and his future partners. When we were at the doctor’s office, he blushed and mentioned that he didn’t think he’d be sexually active anytime soon. I silently thanked the universe and smiled, reminding him that he’s still my little boy.

As for my first crush, he and I didn’t last. He left me for a girl with bigger hair and a bigger love for Bon Jovi. But that’s fine, because I eventually found someone who could kiss me by the beach in a way that was better than I ever imagined.

If you want to learn more about sexual health, resources like the CDC can be quite helpful, and for those exploring home insemination options, check out this informative post from our blog.

Summary

The author reflects on the importance of vaccinating her son against HPV as part of preparing him for responsible sexual behavior. By instilling values of respect and discussing sexual health openly, she aims to protect both her son and future partners from preventable diseases, emphasizing that being a gentleman includes caring about one’s partner’s health.