Final answer:
Healthcare professionals recommend the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in preadolescent girls. Vaccines like Gardasil and Cervarix are effective against strains of HPV known to cause cervical cancer and are recommended to be administered before individuals become sexually active.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prevention of Cervical Cancer through Vaccination
To prevent a preadolescent girl from developing cervical cancer later in life, healthcare professionals recommend vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus known to cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Two vaccines, namely Gardasil® and Cervarix®, have been developed to protect against specific strains of HPV that have the highest risk of leading to cervical cancer. Both Gardasil and Gardasil 9 cover strains 6, 11, 16, and 18, with the latter also offering protection against an additional five high-risk strains (31, 33, 45, 52, and 58), while Cervarix includes types 16 and 18.
These vaccines are most effective when administered to individuals before they become sexually active, with the recommended age for vaccination being between nine to twenty-six years for females. Since HPV can also cause other types of cancer, such as penile cancer, vaccination is also recommended for males. Regular screenings through Pap tests and the use of condoms are additional methods to help prevent HPV infection and thus cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine has significantly reduced infection rates of the targeted strains and plays a crucial role in the fight against cervical cancer.
In conclusion, the administration of the HPV vaccine is a key recommendation for preventing cervical cancer in preadolescent girls, along with regular health screenings and safe sexual practices.