oral cancer risk. Estimates range from about 7% to 22%.
The HPV vaccine is only recommended for young individuals (1st of three injections at age 12 or so) because you get the greatest benefit from the vaccine by innoculating kids BEFORE they have sex.
However, while the vaccine is safe for healthy adults of most ages, the public health group-think is that most of us oldies with several sexual partners have already been exposed to HPV, so a vaccine isn't going to do us much good. They thus don't want to compel health-care spending on a vaccine that has ever-diminishing returns.
I say FUCK THAT. I am an individual, not a statistic. Look around and get the vaccine. Gardasil has a new vaccine that covers 9 of the worst HPV strains. Now, most Docs and clinics will think you are nuts, but if you look hard enough and are willing to pay the $500-$600 per shot (a series of 3), then do it.
While you're at it, make sure you get your Hepatitis A and B vaccinations as well. Not much more you can do, besides keeping up with flu vaccinations, etc...
The good news is that a lot of folks are working on vaccines to prevent STDs - and a few look fairly promising.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1195888/pdf/genitmed00005-0006.pdf
