Every parent geniunely concerned for the health of their daughter should consider this(HPV Vaccine).?

Question

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Sure you can protect your daughter against cervical cancer. The question is, at what cost? At really who's benefit?

Answer 1

There are studies out there that implicate human papilloma virus (HPV) to the acquisition of cervical cancer; of course, this can only occur if the infection with the virus proceeds towards the chronic and later stages of the infection itself, since it is in the chronic state of the infection wherein cellular damage is at its greatest. Such chronic infection, then, COULD lead to cervical cancer.

There is indeed a high risk of getting cervical cancer with the said viral infection, that is if you let the infection reach that stage. Getting vaccinated DOES NOT protect you or any ladies from getting cervical cancer; it only prevents HPV infection. This is the common misconception about the said vaccine--that getting vaccinated immunizes women from getting cervical cancer. It must be known that there are a number of factors that can promote cervical cancer aside from infection, such as environmental factors, genetic susceptibility/predisposition to cervical factors, and even a person's lifestyle and diet could induce the onset of the said disease itself.

Getting vaccinated for HPV offers protection to HPV infection, although I must say that this does not always comes out to be the case unlike tetanus shots or diphtheria shots, because viruses are different; it is not guaranteed to protect a person for life from getting infected with HPV as other viral strains can exist. Also, there might be other viruses that can cause cervical cancer as well and not just HPV.

The long and short of this is, getting vaccinated for HPV does offer some degree of protection from HPV infection and, thus, some degree of not getting cervical cancer due to chronic HPV infection. In some sense, getting vaccinated, "relieves you of your worries" for one of the possible causes of cervical cancer--this is the cost of getting vaccinated. And all the benefit goes to the person who got vaccinated. This, of course, is not long term if I may say, because protection is mainly for HPV infection only and not directly the cerevical cancer itself--this is where confusion may set in.

For now, I guess this will suffice, because until we get a "universal cure" for cancer, all we can do is patch up the leaks and hope the ceiling won't collaps on us.

Hope this helps and gives you some insight.

Answer 2

The HPV vaccine only protects from SOME of the forms of HPV not all of them as there are many mutations of this virus.

As for it not being out long enough...this is a vaccine...not a new drug. If you get a virus your body develops antibodies to combat it....a vaccine is made of dead or altered "harmless" versions of said viruses so your body "thinks" it has the virus and develops those antibodies in advance...that way when you DO come in contact with the real thing your body fights it off before the disease can gain a foothold.

Also of note is that this vaccine is given in mutiple doses over time so if your like me and DO plan on getting your daughter vaccinated, you need to start well before you "think" she may have sexual activity. I think it takes 6 months to complete the course of 3 shots but i could be wrong.

I'll take any measure that will cut down on the odds of my children having health problems later in life so long as i feel they are safe. Vaccines to me are "safe" now even though that was not always the case.

Answer 3

I am genuinely concerned about the health of my girls. But I don't want them to have the HPV vaccine. It hasn't been around long enough to know what the long term effects are, & I think it gives women a false sense of security and another reason to avoid yearly exzams (as if we need any reason to avoid them in the first place!).

I also believe that mis-informed young women will assume that this will protect them not only from all cervical cancers, but STD's and some will be silly enough to think that it will protect them from pregnancy! I know that sounds stupid, but look at all the questions here on answers that start with "Could I be pregnant?".

With the rate of teen pregnacies apparently on the rise as the "tweeners" (10 to 13 yr. olds) are becomming sexually active and getting pregnant. We need to address the issue of education of our daughters! They need more real, factual information about their health issues as women...not just sex education. They need to know and understand more than the basic's of "how you can get pregnant". There's much more to life, isn't there? I know in our state it is being discussed as a mandatory school vaccine....in theory this will force the Insurance industry to pay for the vaccine. Yee haw so the winners of this one are the Drug Companies, the Doctors who adminaster the vaccine, & the Insurance Industry who need another reason to raise their rates!! Let's just jump right in without putting it to a popular vote of the people. Heaven forbid we may have more than one brain cell and an opinion!!

Answer 4

I would not get the HPV vaccine for my daughter. Nothing is known about the long term effects. Taking proper care of her reproductive system in terms of understing how it works, proper care, regular ob/gyn appointments and proper birth control when it is time will also be a benefit.

Answer 5

Your daughter's benefit. Isn't that the idea? Keeping her from getting cervical cancer sounds like a good idea to me. Please, tell me the downside.