HPV vaccination for my daughter??? Need Help!

[Midnight Mom]

My 20 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with one of the strains of HPV. Her gynecologist is recommending she get the vaccine to prevent her from getting one of the other strains of HPV.

Let me say that when my child was little she was fully vaccinated. I was unaware there were dangers and was just totally clueless about it all. I now think that vaccines are dangerous ... although I have not researched the details, as my girl was grown and it was a non-issue by the time I began hearing about this ... I mostly have just learned little bits and pieces from MDC. All that to say don't get too technical with me b/c it will just go right over my head.

I just need thoughts and advice on whether we should do this or not? And why or why not? WWYD?

TIA.

[Doodlebugsmom]

Since you're daughter is 20 it's obviously up to her to decide. I would highly discourage my dd from getting this vaccine. I won't let her get it, but when she's an adult it will be up to her. It is a very controversial vaccine, and even though they say that the vaccine isn't related, young girls/women have died for unknown reasons after receiving this vaccine.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68454

That is an older article, but more and more controversial info keeps coming out.

[2boyzmama]

You need to get some more information...I thought that the reason for the age cut-off was because some testing showed that if you already have HPV and you receive the vaccine, you actually have a HIGHER chance of getting cervical cancer??? You need to research that to see if it's true, then have her find out which strain she has. Maybe the increased risk is only if she has one of the strains that's covered in the vaccine.

Also, I'd have her ask her dr why he thinks she's at an increased risk of getting a different strain now? Since she has a communicable disease, she obviously needs to be VERY careful to practice safe sex (if she's sexually active) so her chances of getting another strain don't seem to me like they'd be increased. I'm not well-read in HPV, though, my husband and I have only ever been with each other, so I'm admittedly ignorant about STDs.

I'd focus on treating the strain she has now, if there are treatments for it, and then worry about preventing other strains.

[Midnight Mom]

Yes, she is the one to make the ultimate decision for herself. I do know that if I provide her with information against it, she will listen. Thankfully she still loves her mommy's advice!!

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by 2boyzmama

You need to get some more information...I thought that the reason for the age cut-off was because some testing showed that if you already have HPV and you receive the vaccine, you actually have a HIGHER chance of getting cervical cancer??? .

Exactly!


Plus it is my understanding that the body clears itself of HPV and that by the time a woman is 50 she almost certainly has been a carrier and has developed antibodies.

[Midnight Mom]

Thank you. I will start looking in to these issues. This is a great starting point!!

[PGTlatte]

She may find this helpful to read:

http://www.i2k.com/~suzanne/hpv.html

[mysticmomma]

The makers of the vaccine say NOT to get it if you have been diagnosed with HPV. Somehow doctors miss this.

[Cristiaz]

I had two different strains of HPV in my twenties. One caused cervical dysplasia (abnormal paps) which they said could lead to cervical cancer. The other caused no symptons. The first one disappeared on its own in a year, nothing ever got worse. I never got cancer. Having unprotected sex just once and a person can easily get one of the many strains of HPV. It is so common. Instead of vaxing her (which is so dangerous and useless), I'd talk to her about Birth control if you havent already. Which you most likely have, but now she may understand the importance of it.

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

The makers of the vaccine say NOT to get it if you have been diagnosed with HPV. Somehow doctors miss this.

THIS!
She has a HIGHER chance of getting cervical cancer if she gets the vaccine when she already has HPV. I'd go in with the insert and info and confront the doc about it. He's trying to increase your daughters chances of getting CANCER.

[RomanCarmelMom]

Originally Posted by Cristiaz

Instead of vaxing her (which is so dangerous and useless), I'd talk to her about Birth control if you havent already. Which you most likely have, but now she may understand the importance of it.

You still may catch hpv if you use condoms:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/condoms.pdf

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

The makers of the vaccine say NOT to get it if you have been diagnosed with HPV. Somehow doctors miss this.

Having a strain of HPV is a contraindication to getting the vaccine; I don't know why her doctor would say that.

[Marnica]

Yes to all of the above. tell your daughter to read the package insert...all of it...

http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_...ardasil_pi.pdf
particularly section 11 (the description of ingredients)

There is aluminum and sodium borate in this vaccine.

Sodium Borate is the main ingredient in boric acid....you know the stuff used to kill roaches??

http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com...dictionary.htm

Because boric acid is now known to be a dangerous poison, it is no longer commonly used in medical preparations.

I guess they didn't know it was in Gardasil!

[Cristiaz]

Originally Posted by RomanCarmelMom

You still may catch hpv if you use condoms:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/condoms.pdf

If that's the case, that explains why it is so common more so than not. Either way, since its a virus, it can go away on its own.

[Pirogi]

Originally Posted by RomanCarmelMom

You still may catch hpv if you use condoms:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/condoms.pdf

Originally Posted by Cristiaz

If that's the case, that explains why it is so common more so than not. Either way, since its a virus, it can go away on its own.

From the above CDC article (emphasis mine),

These diseases are transmitted primarily through “skin-to-skin” contact from sores/ulcers or infected skin that looks normal.

My first experience with HPV came before they had a test for it. I had an abnormal pap, and the gyn told me that it was probably HPV, that most people will get one strain or another in their lifetime, that my strain was just more aggressive than most of the other (90 or so?) strains out there, and that the protocol was more frequent paps (4 a year), with more aggressive treatment if the paps got progressively worse. A couple years later they developed the test for HPV, and I tested positive for it during a routine pap. It took my body about four years and one LEEP to finally kick the overt symptoms of the virus. They only test for the virus if there is an abnormal pap smear result, so I don't know if the virus still circulates in my body. My cervix is not affected. The vast majority of women who get the virulent strains (there are around 6 I think?) will resolve without harm. The frequent paps simply watch for cellular changes that can occur and that might warrant removal of a thin layer of tissue on the cervix. It is very rare for a woman to come up with an abnormal pap and/or HPV positive test and have the virus quickly progress to cervical cancer between pap smears. It has happened, but it is rare.

Also, I remember my gyn telling me that because it can be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, it is much easier for a woman to get the virus from an infected man than for a man to get it from an infected woman. She postulated that while the virus can survive on an infected person's normal-looking, non-mucus-membrane skin, it needs mucus membrane to take hold in a non-infected person's body. Women have a much larger mucus membrane surface than men. She didn't give me any references to back that up, but it makes sense.

Good luck to your daughter.

[Midnight Mom]

Ladies, this is great! Keep it coming. I'm arming myself with knowledge.

[RomanCarmelMom]

Originally Posted by Cristiaz

If that's the case, that explains why it is so common more so than not. Either way, since its a virus, it can go away on its own.

I agree. Vaxing for this virus is ridiculous and dangerous, especially when one already has the virus. I just wanted to emphasize that the only way to prevent infection is abstinence, and to have partners tested before any sexual activity to help reduce the chances of infection.

[sasshell]

Originally Posted by Cristiaz

I had two different strains of HPV in my twenties. One caused cervical dysplasia (abnormal paps) which they said could lead to cervical cancer. The other caused no symptons. The first one disappeared on its own in a year, nothing ever got worse. I never got cancer.

This is very similar to what happened to me. I was in my early 20's had one abnormal pap that required a colposcopy, was told to continue to have pap smears every six months and nothing else ever developed. I was diligent about my six month schedule and now go once a year with no further issues.

[PGTlatte]

In my late 20s I went from a normal pap one year, to a bad one the next - followed by two separate colposcopys, and needed an immediate cone prodecure for very advanced dysplasia - basically cancer cells that hadn't spread beyond the cervix yet. The doctor got it all, and I had paps every six months for about eight years. Nothing has ever come back. I've since learned that maintaining folate levels can help your body to suppress the virus. There was some concern that I might have an incompetent cervix when I had children, because about 1/3 of it had been removed, and I was watched very carefully with our first, but it was never a problem.

I take HPV, cervical cancer, and the need for safe sex, regular pap tests, and adequate folate levels very seriously. But if I had a daughter, I would not be encouraging this vaccine.