We applaud that you are interested in protecting yourself and your body, Rebecca. HPV is a very serious issue. According to a recent New York Times article, "20 percent of American girls 14 to 19 are infected." The Gardasil vaccine protects against many — but not all — strains of HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer, a serious disease that strikes 11,000 new people every year in the United States. So wanting to find a way to make sure that you do everything you can to avoid this deadly disease makes sense, especially since "at least half of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infections at some point in their lives."

When you talk to your mom, you can explain that you are not sexually active now, and that you have no plans to become so, but that you understand that HPV is something you could get at any time in your life, even if you decide not to have sex until you're married. Maybe the two of you could schedule a talk with your doctor together and find out more about the vaccine, any risks of it that you should be aware of, as well as more about HPV and what the Gardasil vaccine does and does not protect you from.

If your mom thinks that getting vaccinated would cause you to be more willing to have sex, you could tell her that you realize there are plenty of other STDs out there, and that having sex could expose you to them, as well as a possible unwanted pregnancy. Being responsible, looking ahead to your future, and wanting to avoid illness are the hallmarks of a responsible and informed young adult, and your mom will hopefully respect and appreciate that you are coming to talk to her about this extremely serious issue.

—Andrea Pyros