NBR: HPV vaccine

VitaLuna · June 2013

This might be really controversial, I don't know, but here's a little debate for anyone interested:

I was just reading today about a guy with throat cancer caused by HPV, acquired through oral sex. They obviously talked about the importance of vaccinating against it, since the vax is now available for boys and girls.

That reminded me of a friend whose mom refused to allow her to get the HPV vaccine as a young adult (under 18) because she felt it would "encourage promiscuity". This same girl also said she would not allow her own future daughters to get the vax, for the same reasons.

All of the usual vaccine debate aside (i.e. disregarding the fundamental debate about general safety, which is not what I'm talking about), what is your thought on this particular vaccine? Did you get it? Will your child get it as a teenager? If not, why not?

VitaLuna · June 2013

To answer my own question. I got the vaccine, and my children will as well.

I have only ever been with one person (had tested negative for HPV for 3yrs of being with him before getting the vaccine), only plan on being with one, but I got the vaccine anyway.

I'm genuinely curious, though, to hear other opinions on it.. especially those who didn't get it or won't have their kids get it for specific reasons other than just a general anti-vaccine stance.

Shanmarie1083 · June 2013

Yes my daughter will be getting the HPV vaccination when she's of age.

ETA - I got the vaccine when I was in my early 20's

Kgrimaldo92 · June 2013

I got the vaccine when I was about 15 or 16. My mother had no problem with it. We both knew that it was for. It's better to prevent it.

VitaLuna · June 2013

Shanmarie1083:
Yes my daughter will be getting the HPV vaccination when she's of age.
ETA - I got the vaccine when I was in my early 20's

Do you think you'll have your son get it, too?

diablesse · June 2013

I see no reason why I wouldn't have my child get it.

I didn't get it though. I was too old when they released it

Tally879 · June 2013

I got it when I was in High School. I'd have my child get it as well. My grandmother died of ovarian cancer so my mom was actually pretty excited when this came out and it wasn't a question of whether or not I'd be getting it.

Curls218 · June 2013

First off, I assume the guy you mentioned is Michael Douglas. I think he backtracked and said that oral sex didn't cause his throat cancer. He also smoked, etc.

Anyway, I was too old to get it, but I would have my kids get it.

kje120 · June 2013

Loppy19:
My children will get it when they are older. The idea that not getting a shot would prevent a teenager from having sex is laughable to me.

I've never understood that argument. Anyone who actually thinks that getting that vaccine would make your kid easy is ridiculous.

jeapplegate · June 2013

I was too old to get it but my children will both be getting it. I don't know why getting HPV from their spouse and dying of cancer is considered a reasonable risk for someone to take in order to prevent their children from being promiscuous.

It kind of makes me think about the circumcisions decreasing risk of HIV infection thing. I hear people make that argument as a support for male circumcision quite frequently. It make me wonder if the HPV shot had been first marketed as a way to prevent men from getting an STD if the reception would have been different.

CNS1212 · June 2013

diablesse:
I see no reason why I wouldn't have my child get it.
I didn't get it though. I was too old when they released it

I wish I wasn't too old when they released it. I tested positive for it 3 months before my wedding. Not that I've been with many guys nor has DH been with many women, but I got it. Had a colposcopy and LEEP all before my wedding (yay) and haven't had an abnormal pap since. Keeping an eye on cervix as we move closer to EDD.

Since we'll have quite a few years until we have to worry about vaccinating our LO's, I'll be interested to see the effects and whatnot, but I'm all for it. You can be a safe, monogomous person, and still get it because you don't know you have it if you aren't showing physical symptoms.

aboulet · June 2013

I never got it, mainly because I was never offered it. I assumed it was given to younger girls only. I would have gotten it for sure.

My daughter who is 11 did get the shot. I'll protect her from any and everything I can while I have the chance. And my son who is 6 will get the shot as well as soon as he is of age.

EMLYNNLERETTE · June 2013

I did not get the vaccine. I am not in any risk of getting HPV. I know exactly where my DH and I have been. I don't know that I think getting it is bad, but I would not have my daughter get it. I do feel it is incredibly important that parents play a huge role in educating their children on the risks of having sex. If she becomes sexually active, I will let her know her options in protecting herself and let her make that choice. If you can choose to have sex, you can choose what is right for your body.

RedDDD · June 2013

I was too old when they released it and well...I have HPV so Im screwed. But I would say yes to the vaccine for my kids. Agree with the vaccine or not its really ignorant to say you wont let your daughter get it because it promotes them having sex. I didn't get HPV until I was 29 (that I know of) and I got it because my boyfriend of 7 years had a whole other life with other girlfriends in other towns who I knew nothing about. I ended up with HPV and Chlamydia. Thank god that was all I got!! But I never in a million years that that would happen to me and I never in a million years thought I would be someone with an STD. It happens ....to good monogomus people all the time. I would never want my daughter to go through what I went through sitting in my OB's office terrified at 29 years old praying that I didn't have something worse. And then that one thing that I had virtually no control over affecting my future relationships, pregnancies, marriage etc....awful. If we can prevent it then I say go for it.

bexsd · June 2013

I had HPV when I was 20 or 21. It's something like 80% of people have it at some point in their lifetime. I ended up being offered the first shot soon after and took it, but then moved across the country (and in with my now husband) before completing the series.

Knowing those statistics, and knowing what it can cause, I think it is absolutely absurd not to have your children get it.

VitaLuna · June 2013

Curls218:
First off, I assume the guy you mentioned is Michael Douglas. I think he backtracked and said that oral sex didn't cause his throat cancer. He also smoked, etc. Anyway, I was too old to get it, but I would have my kids get it.

It was actually a local guy who got it, didn't have any other risk factors. They did mention in the article, though, that Michael Douglas had claimed that's what caused it, then his publicist later retracted it.

adoubleu12 · June 2013

I got the vaccine when I was 18, but it was too late. I have the strand that causes cancer, and had 3rd grade dysplasia removed from my cervix via cryo. I had 2 "ascus" abnormal paps since, but no more pre-cancerous cells. My daughters will all get the vaccine as soon as they are old enough. I see no reason not to.

VitaLuna · June 2013

Loppy19:
My children will get it when they are older. The idea that not getting a shot would prevent a teenager from having sex is laughable to me.

This is what was funny to me.. she had more partners than anyone else I knew. It was still a very new vaccine then, but I knew of several people whose parents didn't want them to get the vaccine due to them thinking it promoted sex, encouraged them to be unsafe, etc.

(Sorry, I don't know how to double quote or I would've put both my replies in the same box.)

Ashjed514 · June 2013

I got it and my son/future children will get it. I don't believe anything can really prevent a teen from having sex besides their own mind, you can only educated them on safe practices and hope they pay attention.

RunningGal900 · June 2013

I did not get the vaccine. At the time it came out, I was engaged to DH and had never been with anyone else and neither had he, so I saw no need. I will get it for all my kids. If they are going to have sex a vaccine or lack of will not change anything and I will do anything I can to protect them from cancer.

Samielle · June 2013

Cooncidentally, my 12 year old got this vaccine yesterday. Her pediatrician and I actually had a conversation about the ridiculous excuses she hears from parents who turn it down. I can't think of a single reason why I wouldn't have this vaccine administered to my child.

ksf13 · June 2013

I got it when I was a teenager and my little sisters were about 12 when they got it, I think.

Our baby girl will most likely get it as well when she is older. I definitely don't think it encourages promiscuity. Most kids probably won't even ask what the vaccine is for, they just know they are getting a shot. If they do ask or you just want to tell them about it, you can just say it keeps them from getting sick/HPV when they grow up.

I will say it does hurt pretty bad and I've had many nurses tell me it's one of the most painful vaccines they give. I passed out when I got the third in the series.

EMLYNNLERETTE · June 2013

laurelannie:

Teenagers rarely are great at grasping the consequences of their actions, so I think it is laughable that you think vaccinating your kid against a virus that could one day possibly cause cancer would even pop into a kid's mind in their internal debate about whether or not to protect themselves during sexual activity. So yes, I'll vaccinate them, they probably won't even understand at the age of 10 or 11 what HPV is, or why their need to be vaccinated against it is any different than every other l

Sorry I cut off the end of what I wanted to quote, but the main point is there...

I really strongly disagree with this. I had sex when I was 13 and used birth control as well as condoms. I took the time to educate myself about my sexuality because it WAS important to me. I was fortunate enough to have adults in my life not my irresponsible parents who were willing to educate me instead of pawning me off as too immature, to put it nicely, to understand the consequences. I knew that sex could mean a death sentence if I was not careful. I plan to advocate for my daughter, not make choices for her thinking she is incapable when she is out making serious choices already.

strlitemiss · June 2013

I'm definitely getting my son to get it. Im confident that I can teach my children to make informed and safe decisions and have good morals but they will make mistakes and I want them to be protected as much as possible

blondii428 · June 2013

EMLYNNLERETTE:
I did not get the vaccine. I am not in any risk of getting HPV. I know exactly where my DH and I have been. I don't know that I think getting it is bad, but I would not have my daughter get it. I do feel it is incredibly important that parents play a huge role in educating their children on the risks of having sex. If she becomes sexually active, I will let her know her options in protecting herself and let her make that choice. If you can choose to have sex, you can choose what is right for your body.

Since you say you are in no risk of getting HPV because you know exactly where you and your DH have been, I hope that this means that you have only been with each other. It's a very common STD and can be caught as simply as I caught it. My first was a virgin as well so it wasn't from him. My second had only been with one girl, who had only been with one guy. It only takes a little tracing back and ONE person in the whole line to get it. So even though one would like to believe that they and their monogamous partner have been very clean, they aren't 100 safe from it unless they have only been with each other. It can also be caught during condom protected sex since all it takes is skin contact e.g. testicles. It was too late for me but I will vaccinate any of my future children, it's silly not to protect them.

Shanmarie1083 · June 2013

VitaLuna:
Shanmarie1083:
Yes my daughter will be getting the HPV vaccination when she's of age.
ETA - I got the vaccine when I was in my early 20's
Do you think you'll have your son get it, too?

Yes he will be getting it as well. I should have said all of my kids will be getting it when they are old enough.

puppyciao23 · June 2013

blondii428:
EMLYNNLERETTE:
I did not get the vaccine. I am not in any risk of getting HPV. I know exactly where my DH and I have been. I don't know that I think getting it is bad, but I would not have my daughter get it. I do feel it is incredibly important that parents play a huge role in educating their children on the risks of having sex. If she becomes sexually active, I will let her know her options in protecting herself and let her make that choice. If you can choose to have sex, you can choose what is right for your body.

Since you say you are in no risk of getting HPV because you know exactly where you and your DH have been, I hope that this means that you have only been with each other. It's a very common STD and can be caught as simply as I caught it. My first was a virgin as well so it wasn't from him. My second had only been with one girl, who had only been with one guy. It only takes a little tracing back and ONE person in the whole line to get it. So even though one would like to believe that they and their monogamous partner have been very clean, they aren't 100 safe from it unless they have only been with each other. It can also be caught during condom protected sex since all it takes is skin contact e.g. testicles. It was too late for me but I will vaccinate any of my future children, it's silly not to protect them.

This. Condoms do not necessarily prevent HPV transmission.

VitaLuna · June 2013

lmtoo89:
I'm definitely getting my son to get it. Im confident that I can teach my children to make informed and safe decisions and have good morals but they will make mistakes and I want them to be protected as much as possible

I agree 100% that kids will make mistakes and it's silly not to plan accordingly, but I will also add that most men don't know they have it (are asymptomatic), so I don't see it as one of those "oops" things, or necessarily related to having unsafe sex. All of us have sex with our partners, and any man that has had more than one partner in his life could have it and never know until the female came back with an abnormal pap. Likewise, any male could get it if the femal hadn't yet had an abnormal pap or any symptoms.

asgroff1 · June 2013

I was one of the "lucky" ones who got an extremely agressive strand of HPV and ended up with adenocarcinoma. I ended up having to have a cold knife cone and some small treatments. My OBGYN said he wanted to do a hysterectomy to prevent it from spreading, but since i was only 23 he decided to wait. My paps have been clear since and my OB now says she sees no reason to take anything out.

Anyway i was given the shots after they found the cancer. My mother still would not allow my youngest sister to get the shots b/c she felt it would cause her to be promiscious. I think its silly and my sons and if i have a daughter will get the shot with their other vaccines.

MissLauraPants · June 2013

I got the vaccine when I was 25, I know personally 4 friends that have HPV so it was on my to do list to get the vaccine. I will get my boy child vaccinated with it too unless in the next 15 yrs something else comes out for it.

Zoly1103 · June 2013

We will also make sure our son or daughter get the vaccine. I was too old by the time it came out.

I will absolutely teach about responsibility but I just don't want to gamble with my kid's health. Teenagers and even adults do not always make good choices or get too comfortable just because they are on birth control.

jeapplegate · June 2013

EMLYNNLERETTE:
laurelannie:
Teenagers rarely are great at grasping the consequences of their actions, so I think it is laughable that you think vaccinating your kid against a virus that could one day possibly cause cancer would even pop into a kid's mind in their internal debate about whether or not to protect themselves during sexual activity. So yes, I'll vaccinate them, they probably won't even understand at the age of 10 or 11 what HPV is, or why their need to be vaccinated against it is any different than every other l
Sorry I cut off the end of what I wanted to quote, but the main point is there... I really strongly disagree with this. I had sex when I was 13 and used birth control as well as condoms. I took the time to educate myself about my sexuality because it WAS important to me. I was fortunate enough to have adults in my life not my irresponsible parents who were willing to educate me instead of pawning me off as too immature, to put it nicely, to understand the consequences. I knew that sex could mean a death sentence if I was not careful. I plan to advocate for my daughter, not make choices for her thinking she is incapable when she is out making serious choices already.

You do know you can get HPV even with a condom...

EDIT: Sorry, I see someone already pointed this out.

Here is a link talking about condom effectiveness for different STD's. It doesn't have stats and it is geared toward public health educators. The last section talks about ulceration STD's which have different transmission characteristics that HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia etc.. I would hate for anyone to walk away from this thread believing that becoming sexually active with condoms in their early adolescence puts them at low risk of HPV.

https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/latex.htm

NNGnome · June 2013

I was to old when it came out, but my children will be getting it, just like they will get all the recommended shots, as pp said, it will make no difference to their sex lives whether they get the shot or not, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

EMLYNNLERETTE · June 2013

jeapplegate:
EMLYNNLERETTE:
laurelannie:

Teenagers rarely are great at grasping the consequences of their actions, so I think it is laughable that you think vaccinating your kid against a virus that could one day possibly cause cancer would even pop into a kid's mind in their internal debate about whether or not to protect themselves during sexual activity. So yes, I'll vaccinate them, they probably won't even understand at the age of 10 or 11 what HPV is, or why their need to be vaccinated against it is any different than every other l

Sorry I cut off the end of what I wanted to quote, but the main point is there...

I really strongly disagree with this. I had sex when I was 13 and used birth control as well as condoms. I took the time to educate myself about my sexuality because it WAS important to me. I was fortunate enough to have adults in my life not my irresponsible parents who were willing to educate me instead of pawning me off as too immature, to put it nicely, to understand the consequences. I knew that sex could mean a death sentence if I was not careful. I plan to advocate for my daughter, not make choices for her thinking she is incapable when she is out making serious choices already.
You do know you can get HPV even with a condom...

I do. My point was that I knew the risks to having sex.

To the OP questioning my sexual history, I reserve that as being my own business.

Allisonz0312 · June 2013

Yes, she will be getting it. I just had my first abnormal pap, after two and a half years of monogamy, always making responsible choices prior to that, and yearly pap's. I felt down about it until I read most people will have this virus at some point in their life, even ones who will only have one partner. It seems crazy to me not to get it.

BubblyDevil · June 2013

I received the series right when it came out as I was about to hit the age limit. Aside from it being an extremely painful shot, I didn't have a problem with it. I have recommended it to all my patients and my son will be receiving the series when he isof age.

jeapplegate · June 2013

EMLYNNLERETTE:
jeapplegate:
EMLYNNLERETTE:
laurelannie:
Teenagers rarely are great at grasping the consequences of their actions, so I think it is laughable that you think vaccinating your kid against a virus that could one day possibly cause cancer would even pop into a kid's mind in their internal debate about whether or not to protect themselves during sexual activity. So yes, I'll vaccinate them, they probably won't even understand at the age of 10 or 11 what HPV is, or why their need to be vaccinated against it is any different than every other l
Sorry I cut off the end of what I wanted to quote, but the main point is there... I really strongly disagree with this. I had sex when I was 13 and used birth control as well as condoms. I took the time to educate myself about my sexuality because it WAS important to me. I was fortunate enough to have adults in my life not my irresponsible parents who were willing to educate me instead of pawning me off as too immature, to put it nicely, to understand the consequences. I knew that sex could mean a death sentence if I was not careful. I plan to advocate for my daughter, not make choices for her thinking she is incapable when she is out making serious choices already.
You do know you can get HPV even with a condom...
I do. My point was that I knew the risks to having sex. To the OP questioning my sexual history, I reserve that as being my own business.

If you are referring to me as OP...

I not judging your sexual history, you were the one that brought it up in support of your opinion. You previously stated " did not get the vaccine. I am not in any risk of getting HPV. I know exactly where my DH and I have been" in one or your prior posts. I just wanted to clarify that you are in fact not in a low risk category based on the sexual history that you gave.

EMLYNNLERETTE · June 2013

jeapplegate:
EMLYNNLERETTE:
jeapplegate:
EMLYNNLERETTE:
laurelannie:

Teenagers rarely are great at grasping the consequences of their actions, so I think it is laughable that you think vaccinating your kid against a virus that could one day possibly cause cancer would even pop into a kid's mind in their internal debate about whether or not to protect themselves during sexual activity. So yes, I'll vaccinate them, they probably won't even understand at the age of 10 or 11 what HPV is, or why their need to be vaccinated against it is any different than every other l

Sorry I cut off the end of what I wanted to quote, but the main point is there...

I really strongly disagree with this. I had sex when I was 13 and used birth control as well as condoms. I took the time to educate myself about my sexuality because it WAS important to me. I was fortunate enough to have adults in my life not my irresponsible parents who were willing to educate me instead of pawning me off as too immature, to put it nicely, to understand the consequences. I knew that sex could mean a death sentence if I was not careful. I plan to advocate for my daughter, not make choices for her thinking she is incapable when she is out making serious choices already.
You do know you can get HPV even with a condom...

I do. My point was that I knew the risks to having sex.

To the OP questioning my sexual history, I reserve that as being my own business.
 
If you are referring to me as OP...
I not judging your sexual history, you were the one that brought it up in support of your opinion.  You previously stated " did not get the vaccine. I am not in any risk of getting HPV. I know exactly where my DH and I have been" in one or your prior posts.  I just wanted to clarify that you are in fact not in a low risk category based on the sexual history that you gave.  

Saying that I am not 'in fact' in a low risk group is not at all supported by what I said in that post actually. It was purposefully pretty vague 'in fact.'

strlitemiss · June 2013

VitaLuna:
lmtoo89:
but they will make mistakes and I want them to be protected as much as possible
I agree 100% that kids will make mistakes and it's silly not to plan accordingly, but I will also add that most men don't know they have it (are asymptomatic), so I don't see it as one of those "oops" things, or necessarily related to having unsafe sex. All of us have sex with our partners, and any man that has had more than one partner in his life could have it and never know until the female came back with an abnormal pap. Likewise, any male could get it if the femal hadn't yet had an abnormal pap or any symptoms.

I meant having sex without protection or without knowing their partners history, or getting tested frequently.I'd hope my son will wait for marriage but I'm also understand that it happens before that and all you can do is try your best to protect, education and talk!

OpheliaChem · June 2013

I did not because when the vaccine became regularly available, I was already 26. I also had HPV at 26 but was clear at my next Pap (and I've been clear since then). If you don't get regular Paps, you could have HPV and not know it - meaning it clears up by the time you actually get checked. Anywho, I will definitely encourage my kiddos to get the vaccine because it prevents the most common strains of the virus that cause cervical cancer.

AppleMuffins · June 2013

My future children, boy or girl, will get the vaccine. Even if she grows up to be a saint and never has sex outside of marriage, there's no guarantee what her husband will do or what his previous sex life will be like. My mom was married for 12 years when she found out my dad was cheating on her. A lot. Often with hookers. She was absolutely blindsided. Later down the road she ended up with HPV and some precancerous cells. And even if my daughter and her husband never had any other partners, God forbid she's raped. It will at least be one little thing we wouldn't need to be concerned about. I've had the shot even though Dh and I have only been with each other. Yes, it was annoying to have to get 3, but I didn't find it that painful as others have said (my arm was a little sore after, but nothing major). I really think the benefits outweight the risk. If she never needs it, then I feel like it's no harm done but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

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