Should I get the vaccination and test?

Question

I'm 21 and I just changed doctors. When i asked my previous doctor about getting the cervical cancer vaccine the doctor said I didn't need it because I'm not sexually active. My current doctor says I should, better safe than sorry. I can't decide. I've read the side effects and I'm a little spooked. It says fever is one of the side effects and that seems to be what happens to me whenever I get vaccinated for anything. it usually only lasts for a few hours. I've also never had a pap smear and I keep hearing that I should have them done regularly starting at 18. How important is it that I get the test and the vaccine done?

Answer 1

I would just get the pelvic exam and pap test. All women need to get that yearly to ensure health. It's important for all women.

The previous poster is wrong about when you start going to the Gyn. You should start at 18 or 19 or sooner if you're having sex. I first went at 19.

Stay away from the shot. Women and girls are getting sick from it and it does not completely protect you from all strains of HPV. In other words, you can still get a strand of HPV not covered by the shot even if you get the shot. It has not been completely proven to be safe and not the vaccine promised.
Anyway, you don't need it because you don't have sex.

Answer 2

well I don´t think you need any of this, the irregular growing of bad cells in your uterus starts when you have sex. I know a woman who was a virgen till she 60, she thoght os going to the gyn, to be checked and they didn´t want to check her as she was a virgin, and they didn´t want to hurt her, she´s a friend of my mom this is for sure. But I´ve looked for it and it seems you have to have a pap smear till you´re 18 look:

"It is commonly recommended that women have their first gynecological exam by the time they're 18 or as soon as they become sexually active (note sexually active, not losing virginity). Routine pelvic examinations include both an internal and an external exam. Part of the internal exam consists of a pap smear. The pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. The smears do not actually detect disease, but identify inflammation and infection in the cervical area that may be evidence of abnormalities in the cervical cells. Younger women may be more vulnerable to infection since the surface of their cervixes contain relatively immature, less resistant cells, emphasizing the importance of annual gynecological exams for young women"

13. If I'm a virgin should I still have a pap test? Could I maybe lose my virginity?
At Student Health Services we don't feel that there is a need to perform pap smears on students that haven't been sexually active. If you go to another clinic, though, the policy may be that all women by the age of 18 should have a pap smear done. Most women by the age of 18, however, won't have an intact hymen. If you've been using tampons, for example, you won't have an intact hymen. But generally, the answer is if you are a virgin a pap smear isn't necesary.

As for the cervical cancer vaccine.

Groups are working on a vaccine that should be able to come out early next year. A vaccine that will protect against a sexually transmitted virus (HPV which just happens to be the most common sexually transmitted disease--about 80% of teenagers who are sexually active have it). Cervical cancer usually affects young women who are sexually active. I actually would not know all this unless I had gotten a pap smear just a few weeks ago. Anyway because this vaccine can prevent cervical cancer many people are eager to make the vaccine a standard roster of shots for children to recieve (mostly for girls) before they hit puberty. The controversy (as there always is one) is that many people believe that immunizing teenagers will encourage them to be sexually active.

I guess it is really up to you

Good luck! ;D

Answer 3

Just take the vaccine. It is the very first vaccine in the world for cancer, specifically! Better safe than sorry. The side effect you're worried about is "fever"? Once the fever wears off, you are safe from 4 types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, I'd say that's a fair trade.

Answer 4

my doctor told me that something like 80% of women get HPV (the vaccine you're considering is against HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer). So I would recommend getting the vaccine, even though you could get a fever. better a fever than cancer or an sti, right? (even if you're not sexually active yet.)

and yes, once you turn 18 you should get a gynecologist and get pap smears annually.

Answer 5

Are you talking about gardisil? I recommend it 100%. It takes several months with a series of 3 shots. So you may want to start it. You never know when you will become sexually active. You should get a pap smear. You can have abnormal cells even if you are not sexually active. Don't be scared. These are all preventative measures. Which are way better than what could happen. (if not prevented) Make sense?

Answer 6

Getting a pap test is important even if not sexually active. I probably wouldn't get the vaccine unless I was thinking of becoming sexually active.

Answer 7

You should have started getting regular paps when you started your period. Yes, get the vaccination (someday you'll be sexually active right?) and start getting your pap smears (once a year) HPV is soooo common and easy to catch better to just avoid the headache and get the vaccination. It was too late for me...the vaccination came out after I already contracted HPV.

Answer 8

This vaccine is still very new. There is no way of knowing the long term effects of it, or how long it will last. It also contains questionable ingredients like aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate and polysorbate 80. Even though it contains known carcinogens, they still do not test it for carcinogenic or teratogenic properties, or effects on fertility.

Answer 9

I have 2 daughters, ages 13 and 5. My 13 year old is eligible for this vax but she is not getting it just yet. There has only been 15,000 women studied WORLD WIDE. For me, there certainly is NOT enough testing done on this drug to warrent pushing on my child.
She is NOT sexually active at this time. We will just wait.
I would do your own research on this subject, it is a very personal decision.

Answer 10

I am very scared to have my girls 12 and 13 get this. It is too new out there. I never got it and I'm still alive. This vaccine needs more time out there.