Is Anyone Considering the Cervical Cancer Vaccine?

[AChiOhSnap]

It wasn't extensively tested in women over 26, yet, but they're expecting the results for women over 26 soon (at least according to a Gardasil fact sheet I just read).

I will be getting the shot by the end of the year, as will any future daughters of mine (providing that no new evidence calls into question the safety of the drug).

Now for my soapbox: In deciding whether or not to get the vaccine, I did a lot of reading on Gardasil. Now I totally understand being wary of new vaccines, that's a given for me. But there's also a LOT of dissent on whether or not young girls should get the vaccine, based on the idea of talking with a young girl about HPV/STDs or that it will encourage premarital sex and it all really irritates me. All these articles have these moms running their mouths about how their daughters won't be getting it because their "daughter shouldn't be hearing about sexually transmitted diseases yet" or that it "won't be a problem" since their daughter "will remain a virgin until she's married" but APPARENTLY none of these mothers have ever heard of rape or molestation. I think it should be given to young girls from the earliest possible age, as I have known wayyyy too many women that have been sexually assaulted as young girls. You all should check out these articles, some of these people are so ignorant it will make your jaw drop.

That's the end of my soapbox today.

[SoCalGirl]

UCSD's student newspaper, The Guardian, did an article on this back in October. http://ucsdguardian.org/viewarticle....onth=10&day=23

It sounds like a pretty expensive investment.

[ufdale]

It's not horribly expensive, but I just don't understand why insurance companies aren't covering it!
At women's centers it's $150 for all three shots and I'm pretty sure it's 200 at UF. I've even heard that there is some push to make it a requirement for freshmen entering college.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by ufdale

It's not horribly expensive, but I just don't understand why insurance companies aren't covering it!
At women's centers it's $150 for all three shots and I'm pretty sure it's 200 at UF. I've even heard that there is some push to make it a requirement for freshmen entering college.

I work in this field. When new drugs/medical treatments/vaccines are first FDA approved, they do not immediately get added to insurance formularies. If you call your insurance company and they say no we will not cover Gardasil (or any medication), push back and ask if there is an appeals process to get it approved. Some require prior authorizations that need to be completed by your doctor.

So while they might be saying no at the time, that answer can change. After time goes by and there is more information and the insurance company meets with its pharmacists and medical experts, it will be added to more insurance formularies.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ufdale

I've even heard that there is some push to make it a requirement for freshmen entering college.

The problem with this is, if you've been exposed to those strains of HPV, the vaccine can increase your chances of getting cancer. Even if every girl gets it at the age of 9, I don't see this being a good "requirement."

What about vaccinating men as well? While HPV can cause penile cancer, wouldn't the vaccine help prevent transmission?

[AChiOhSnap]

HPV Vaccine (Gardasil) Fact Sheet

Here's a factsheet on the vaccine from the CDC in case anyone wants it!

The vaccine is still being tested on boys/men according to the website.

[NappyBison]

I've already been given the vaccine (soon to be receiving my 3rd and final shot) and I didn't know much about it when my doctor informed me of it last year. I was just going in for a routine check-up and to start my "college shots" up so I'd have them out of the way. As far as I know, the particular strains of HPV it is supposed to help prevent, will soon be replaced my new strains I guess technically my generation is the guinea pig for this vaccine and who knows what will happen to "us" after we've been introduced to it. I heard a few states were going to try and force parents into making their children get the vaccine. I'm not that worried about the vaccine itself though. I just see it as another form of protecting myself from any other disease: measles, mumps, chicken pox etc.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

No. In order to get the HPV, I have get some ding-a-ling first, and I'm not having that much luck in that department as for now. Plus, I don't like taking vacs period, I don't even take the flu-shots.

While this was said in a way that only Dionysus can so I can't claim the exact wording, I'll ditto it anyway. While I know that sex isn't the only way to contract the virus, it's a big part of it and that's not an issue for me. Plus, I've been a little anti-vaccine lately. I've never had a flu shot and do not intend to get one--every time my parents get a flu shot, they end up with the flu. Not the mini-flu that comes with being injected with the virus but the full-blown-knock-down-drag-out-this-is-what-was-trying-to-avoid flu. Vaccines don't always work, not even with decades of research and trials behind them. I'd rather take every other precaution and just leave the weird injections to someone else until there's more proof in the pudding.

[ufdale]

Originally Posted by AChiOhSnap

Now for my soapbox: In deciding whether or not to get the vaccine, I did a lot of reading on Gardasil. Now I totally understand being wary of new vaccines, that's a given for me. But there's also a LOT of dissent on whether or not young girls should get the vaccine, based on the idea of talking with a young girl about HPV/STDs or that it will encourage premarital sex and it all really irritates me. All these articles have these moms running their mouths about how their daughters won't be getting it because their "daughter shouldn't be hearing about sexually transmitted diseases yet" or that it "won't be a problem" since their daughter "will remain a virgin until she's married" but APPARENTLY none of these mothers have ever heard of rape or molestation. I think it should be given to young girls from the earliest possible age, as I have known wayyyy too many women that have been sexually assaulted as young girls. You all should check out these articles, some of these people are so ignorant it will make your jaw drop.

Yes! I can't believe what they're saying...it's even worse when it's coming out of male politician's mouths.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Yours truly was in the drug study. They paid well when I was a broke college student.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by AChiOhSnap

Now for my soapbox: In deciding whether or not to get the vaccine, I did a lot of reading on Gardasil. Now I totally understand being wary of new vaccines, that's a given for me. But there's also a LOT of dissent on whether or not young girls should get the vaccine, based on the idea of talking with a young girl about HPV/STDs or that it will encourage premarital sex and it all really irritates me. All these articles have these moms running their mouths about how their daughters won't be getting it because their "daughter shouldn't be hearing about sexually transmitted diseases yet" or that it "won't be a problem" since their daughter "will remain a virgin until she's married" but APPARENTLY none of these mothers have ever heard of rape or molestation. I think it should be given to young girls from the earliest possible age, as I have known wayyyy too many women that have been sexually assaulted as young girls. You all should check out these articles, some of these people are so ignorant it will make your jaw drop.

Everyone's mom is sure their daughter will be a virgin until their wedding night, but those moms who are using that as their reason should wake up and see the real world. Wouldn't you rather have your daughter protected "just in case" instead of convincing yourself she's not going to have sex, and then having her die of cancer because you couldn't see the reality of the world?