Teenagers don't need parental consent to receive contraception or sexually transmitted disease treatment in most states. Should they need parental consent to get a vaccine that could protect them from STDs? A recent editorial in the journal Pediatrics says no. The politics and ethics of providing reproductive health care to teenagers will presumably always seem complicated, but, in my opinion, if teenagers are old enough to get an STD they should also be old enough to consent to protecting themselves. The HPV vaccine is most effective if it is given before any exposure to the virus has taken place. Those teenagers who aren't willing to wait for sex shouldn't have to wait for a shot just because they are uncomfortable having a frank conversation with their parents. In an ideal world, every teenager would be able to talk to their parents freely about their sexual decision making, but until that world comes about they should at least have the chance to do the best job that they can of protecting their health. As health care professionals, policy makers, teachers, and parents, we need to encourage responsibility every way that we can.

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• HPV Overview
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