ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA/CNN) -
There's been a lot of controversy over the HPV vaccine.
Since the inoculation is designed to protect young people against a common sexually transmitted disease known as the Human Papillomavirus, some people believe the shot gives the go-ahead for many teens to have sex.
But researchers are finding that's not the case.
Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease known to be the cause of a number of cancers, including mouth and throat, genitalia cancer, and cancer of the cervix.
Since 2006, the Centers for Disease Control has recommended that all girls ages 11 and 12 receive the HPV vaccine to protect themselves.
Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics has advised that girls and boys at that age be given the shot to fight the virus strain.
Yet many, who oppose the vaccine, believe that protecting children from this STD would open the door for pre-teens to engage in sexual activity at an early age.
A new study published in this week's edition of Pediatrics, finds that vaccinating children at ages 11 and 12 did not increase sexual activity in young girls.
Researchers looked at the number of pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and contraceptive use and counseling in more than 1,300 11 and 12-year-old girls.
They followed them up to three years after the pre-teens got their vaccines and found no significant increase in any of these sexual activities.
The authors note while having sex at an early age, with multiple partners are risk factors for getting the HPV infection their study is the first to find that getting vaccinated does not modify these young girls' sexual behavior.
What do you think of the research? Do you think the HPV vaccine open the door for kids to have sex? Let us know on Facebook.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
