Sex-related diseases affected British youth ages 16-24 the most in 2006, the Health Agency (HPA) said, warning of a continuing epidemic of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in gay men.

In 2006, over 370,000 new sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed - up 2.2 percent on 2005, the HPA said Friday

Nova Scotia in Canada has become the first province in the country to launch a publicly funded vaccination program to protect young girls from the human papilloma virus (HPV).

On Wednesday, it was announced that beginning in the fall, Grade 7 girls will be given doses of the vaccine as part of a school based vaccination program. The vaccines are not mandatory and will require a consent form

New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson will reportedly sign a bill making it mandatory for all sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against HPV, the sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. The measure would take effect June 15 -- 90 days after the adjournment of the Legislature.

After an initial approval from the state House on Sunday, Gov. Bill Richardson said, "It's a public health issue, and I believe it's an important step. New Mexico has always been progressive on these issues. ... We've got to find ways for young women to be protected

The American Cancer Society released new guidelines for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which do not include a recommendation for vaccinations over age 18.

The ACS recommendations called for girls aged 11 to 12 to be routinely vaccinated. Girls as young as 9 can be vaccinated as well. The guidelines also said that women ages 13 to 18 should also receive a follow up vaccine if they were never vaccinated for did not get all three shots

A new study suggests that Human papillomavirus (HPV) may make it more difficult to conceive with in vitro fertilization (IVF). The study that was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, only 17 women in the group of more than 100 tested positive for HPV.

The ABC news reports that researchers from New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center found that women who tested positive for HPV were about half as likely to conceive from IVF compared to women who tested negative