Parents- HPV vaccine for girls......yes or no?

nahmm83 wrote: »

Just a couple, although, my friend works for a pharmaceutical company that no longer endorses the vaccine.....received a lot of complaints. Many were dismissed but the ones that were actually following through were those where the girls were having problems with their reproductive systems. She only has boys but has told me if she had girls.....she obviously wouldn't recommend it.

I would listen to your doctor over a friend at a pharmaceutical company. No offense to your friend but she isn't a doctor. While I know about the reports of complications (maybe seem to be related to lyme that I've seen), as somebody who was too old for the vaccine who then had rounds of procedures, surgeries - if my parents had not had me vaccinated, I would never forgive them. People make it sound like cervical cancer is simple to test for and treat because it is SO slow - and yes, compared to other cancers that's very true. But let me assure you, the process of paps every 3 month, colposcopies, LEEPS, and hysterectomies in your 20's are no joke and you really shouldn't do that to your kid. I was lucky and didn't need radiation or chemo. But there's always that possibility. And to be very clear, I never missed an annual exam - if you are one of the unlucky ones, you have to wait out for these cells to change. They don't treat you until the cells change - which can take years. So you have to consider the mental anguish. Mine was over a 6 year process. They are are far more likely, given the prevalence of HPV to develop cervical cancer than experience a complication from the vaccine.

I would strongly encourage you talk to you doctor about your medical concerns. Not the internet and not a friend.

My entire year group at school received this vaccine.
Not one complaint from the entire group (100+ students)... apart from that the needle was sharp.

Pros: Vaccinated against a common & potentially dangerous disease
Cons: Sharp needle

My daughter received it a few years ago. As I said in a previous post, my oldest son has completed the series and the next one is about to start it in a few months.

I've been with my pediatrician for more than 16 years, with all 5 of my kids. I can say that I have developed a relationship of trust with her. So when she recommended it, and told me that she gave it to her own daughters (who are just a few years older than my oldest), I figured it was okay. This is a doctor who keeps up with her research and reads the current literature; she even took the time to research a rare disorder that my little guy has so she could give me a more full picture rather than just the diagnoses and then letting genetics give me more information. So yes, I trust her judgement.

Let me say it again. If my doctor feels confident in giving this vaccine to her own children that is enough for me to go ahead and have mine vaccinate.


(They also have a policy now, at least in my doctor's practice, to have the patient stay sitting there for at least 10 minutes after receiving each dose. Even though reactions are rare, most reactions that occur will occur in the first 10 minutes, as an added measure of safety)

nahmm83 wrote: »

My daughters receive vaccines, but I'm still undecided regarding the HPV vaccine.....I've done my research and their doctor is also adamant about them receiving the vaccine. However, I wanted to ask for your opinions on why you had (or didn't have) your daughter receive the HPV vaccine.

As someone who's had to have surgery to remove pre-cancerous cells on my cervix due to HPV and now have to go every 6 months to a year for checks, YES. When it was found it was already pretty advanced. Had I delayed my pap for another year it probably would've been much more serious. I wish it was available when I was a kid and my daughter will be getting it in a couple years when she's old enough. Cervical dysplasia and cancer as a result of HPV is scary, unsymptomatic, dangerous, and preventable.