I am writing in response to the article "HPV vaccine pending federal approval," Nov. 22. I think the hypothesis that people are more promiscuous after being inoculated with a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is completely reasonable. In fact, it is called the risk compensation theory, which can be applied to many behaviors. For example, people often drive faster when they wear a seat belt.

The idea is that when the risk goes down for any given behavior, the individual will adjust their activity level to compensate for the lack of risk. Despite its logic, it has not been proven in to be correct (nor has it been proven incorrect either).

Given the HPV example, it seems reasonable that sexual promiscuity will go up with the advent of an HPV vaccine. The defense that comprehensive education about sexuality reduces promiscuous behavior is understandable and potentially correct. The fault there lies in the assumption that individuals who are getting the vaccine are getting comprehensive sexual education, which is not always the case. People who get the flu shot don't sit down for a lecture about influenza. A worried collegiate receiving the emergency contraception pill gets it anonymously with a discretionary comment from the practitioner at best.

The HPV vaccine is obviously a good thing but the sexual habits of individuals will obviously change in response and they shouldn't be disregarded.