The French government has agreed to subsidize the HPV vaccine made by Merck for teenage girls and young women, but coverage depends largely upon the patient’s virginity. .

The vaccine is being mandated for 14-year-old girls, regardless of their sexual practices, Sanofi-Aventis spokeswoman Armelle Bouvier tells CNNMoney.com. But girls and women aged 15 to 23 will qualify for 65 percent government coverage only if they are virgins, or lost their virginity within the past year. Shtupping a long time? Forget about it.

Bouvier says the policy was established by French health authorities, not the drugmaker, and that the virginity or sexual activity of individual patients would be determined by docs. The idea is to save money, since a three-dose regimen will cost about $550. The human papilloma virus that is tied to cervical cancer is sexually transmitted, so the vaccine may provide protection for those who haven’t had sex.

Les Funtleyder, an analyst for Miller Tabak, says sales typically get a boost when they become eligible for coverage by a government health plan. But he said the prospect of being asked “invasive questions” about sexual activity would “probably overhang sales.”

In the US, Gardasil is approved for girls and women aged 9 to 26.