I got all of the shots. I'm not sexually active either, but I figure my partners in the future might be, so it would be good to be protected. I mean, even if you and your partner get tested, HPV is a virus, which means medicines don't make it go away, it has to clear up of it's own accord. I think I remember hearing that most cases clear up within two years, or something like that. I also remember hearing that like, 50% of sexually active people in the United States (I don't about elsewhere) acquire HPV at some point during their lives. :o I am a box of information. I finished getting the shots a little over a year ago. I didn't react very well to them. The first shot was okay, but the second shot made me a bit dizzy and nauseous, and after the third shot I was bed ridden for four days with severe flu-like symptoms. I couldn't stand up without getting dizzy and collapsing, and I could barely eat because I was so nauseous. I also spent three of those days with a 102 degree temperature. It was awful. I hear that's super rare, though, and it's not like it affects me now or anything. I still would have gotten the shots . :o I didn't really mean to type that much...

i've never bothered to find out what all this vaccine business was... I just wrote it off as another one of those 'worry about it if your partner has STD's' thing. And so, thanks to this thread I bothered to look HPV and cervical cancer up.

But it really doesn't change anything for me. The one person I've had contact with also has never had sexual contact with anyone else. So if HPV is something only passed person to person, logically we both still don't have it, right?

There wouldn't be much point in trying to get vaccines, would there now? although I'm already anticipating the cries of 'but you never know~' the thing is, I do know our sexual history. the only reason to get a vaccine would be in the severe off chance that I plan to have relations with another partner, right? Or do all the websites neglect to mention that HPV can be something you get another way, or are born with? Not a one just outright says, 'you absolutely don't have HPV if you and your partner were completely and totally virgins of any kind of sexual contact' because they all assume that we've had multiple partners.

Sorry that sounded like a rant, but I really am asking.

Ummm i've had all three and i Agree with the fact that they are more painful then most vaccines, but yeah i'm pretty sure that you can get HPV some other ways than JUST being sexually active but i think it's more rare.

We had a health nurse and she scared me into it. But i'm glad i got it! ^_^

I wonder if those who have been vaccinated won't be required to endure pap smears now.

It's my understanding that you still have to go through with them (my doctor asked if I was up to date the other day). They do pick up more things that HPV/STD's.
I've had one pick up irregularities before so it seems like they're beneficial for more... if uncomfortable.

Where the shot is concerned, I had slight dizziness for a few hours after and my arm is still tender but otherwise nothing.
I did hear that when it was first introduced to schools here some girls fainted but severe side effects appear to be rare.

I really don't know if they would have introduced the vaccine world wide if it hadn't gone through the appropriate testing right? I can't see the government implementing it into all schools if they were sure it was safe.

no I haven't gotten my vaccine, not sure if I ever will though. My parents are both in the idea that there is no point to a vaccine blah blah blah, I never really listened to their reasoning that much. Now that I'm older I might start taking some of the more necissary ones, but they were always against them in children and I can see why back when I was a baby. they think that the fever that usually comes after getting a vaccine (a healthy response of the body) if it gets too high can cause Autism by damaging other cells than the vaccine ones, that and that some of the vaccines had mercury in them back then.

I'm still withholding judgement, but that's the reason why I have never gotten any kind of vaccine, when I'm out on my own I'm still not sure whether I'll get them or not. there are a few like the cervical cancer and the melatonin (i think that's what it's called) that would be good, but my parents were more of the body healing itself mindset. I'm still not sure wether I'll follow or not

Originally Posted by Kalliste

It's my understanding that you still have to go through with them (my doctor asked if I was up to date the other day). They do pick up more things that HPV/STD's.
I've had one pick up irregularities before so it seems like they're beneficial for more... if uncomfortable.

Where the shot is concerned, I had slight dizziness for a few hours after and my arm is still tender but otherwise nothing.
I did hear that when it was first introduced to schools here some girls fainted but severe side effects appear to be rare.

I really don't know if they would have introduced the vaccine world wide if it hadn't gone through the appropriate testing right? I can't see the government implementing it into all schools if they were sure it was safe.

Also the vaccine only is accountable for a few strains of the HPV virus there are many more different kinds of HPV virus' that are picked up though a Pap smear. It's like the herpies virus there are so many different strains like mono is a type of herpies virus so is chicken pox, but they all do different things. It would be impossible to protect you against all of the different strains especially when they mutate so quickly.

I got the virus, yes. And the only negative things that I've ever heard come from nutjobs who proclaim that vaccines are a way of control, and pair it with any other absurd theory or conspiracy. Heaven forbid you be responsible and try to vaccinate your kid from polio and chicken pox that are still alive in this world. These things are common. Most just have no idea how a vaccination works, and the phobia of needles overrides it.

And HIV is transferable through blood and fluid contact (includes AIDS), which, yes, means sex. The HPV virus, as far as I have known, is contracted only through sexual activity or the exchange of fluids. It's just as it says, it's a virus.

What happens, is that when you, and if you, contract some sort of sexually transmitted disease, the virus has the capability to bond with another cell or change its own DNA to form another virus (take for instance, the retrovirus HIV) and develop as a cancer in your body.

Plus, the vaccine is for the most common types of HPV viruses that are found in women. It doesn't vaccinate against all of them, and there's really no risk in just getting the three shots. Everyone does the bit about how their partner hasn't had sex with anyone else, and they don't plan to, but you never plan these things. Your partner could have a liason, you could break up, you never know these things for sure.

I got them all, but it's not like I'm going to get HPV in the first place, though. =:B

Originally Posted by Ghost Pony

Everyone does the bit about how their partner hasn't had sex with anyone else, and they don't plan to, but you never plan these things. Your partner could have a liason, you could break up, you never know these things for sure.

yup, that's me ^ . but aside from the possibility of the unplanned sexual encounter, is there any other freaking way to get HPV, other than from another person that already has it?

A friend of mine got HPV from a sexual encounter and the male didn't have it but she got it. Men don't really get it but they DO carry it. And so anyone that male had sex with including my friend had a possibility of getting HPV which DOES lead to cervical cancer. So it doesn't really matter IF your partner gets tested because finding it in a male is harder then finding it in a female.

You will still have to get pap smears because cervical cancer isn't the only thing that they are checking for.

Guardisil protects against the two major strains of HPV one minor one, and also genital warts. I have heard nothing negative against the vaccine, much like you won't hear anything against getting the chicken pox vaccine or anything else that doctors will give children. Why possibly suffer through something if you don't have to?
I've gotten 2/3 of the shots thus far. Just got my second one on friday. and my arm is still sore but meh. A sore arm is easier to deal with then cervical cancer. Cancer isn't something I would want to risk getting IF I can prevent it. My daughters when they get old enough will get it as well.

My insurance covers everything so I have no idea if the government pays for it or if my insurance does. Either way. I don't pay for it. :P

in short I'm gonna be one less one less. <3

Hmm... well if I ever have the money to even see the doctor, I might get a vaccine. but at the moment I see no reason to prioritize it.

I am not getting it.
I don't trust the government, doctors with liquid to put in your body, or new vaccines.

I finished mine last year. My insurance company paid for the first shot but the last 2 I paid for. Still not sure why the first was covered since all 3 are required for it to be effective. My mom was pushing me to get it, before she heard about the shot, she kept saying I didn't need to go to the obgyn but after a news brief on it and some online research she figured I should not only get that but get that darn checkup out of the way.

Anyone know why they aren't giving the shot to women over the age of 26 though?

I haven't gotten them. But I know I should, and I everntually will. ^^

I've had the first.

I was sick with my Crohn's for a while, so I couldn't get the second. I'm overdue for it, so I'm scheduling an appoinment (Just need to hear back!)

I was told they hurt. Haha. It wasn't bad. :3 (Then again, I got 5 shots at once.. I have no clue how it wasn't so sore!)



EDIT:

Oh god.. I need to talk to my mom about scheduling a Gyno appointment. My first. >.> I probably should have done it sooner, considering I've been sexually active with my boyfriend for 2 years... but.. >.> I'm so nervous. Haha.
I've gotten more medical treatments then I can imagine, but going to a Gyno still scares me a bit..

I've gotten STD tests, and so has he (once a year) and we're clean... but.. Argh. I need to go. And talk to my mom about it.

>.> COURAGE, KEI! YOU CAN DO IT!

*gives Kei courage* <3
as long as you relax and don't tense up it isn't too bad. seriously. It's awkward but it could potentially save your life. genital diseases are bad.


and conspiracy theories about the government, doctors and vaccines are just silly. :/ seriously. Okiama- if you have children I hope you get over that. Because seriously you may end up losing your children to diseases that there are vaccines for because you are afraid of vaccinating them.

[edit] Nike- women under 26 are less likely to have HPV/cervical cancer. So they are trying to vaccinate as many women as possible that are not at potential risk for already having it. Sort of like how all of our parents when they were younger were vaccinated for polio and one other thing that left a huge scar on the arm. But since they did that our kids don't have to. It could be them trying to irradicate the virus. I never thought to ask my gyn though. >.>

*nodnod* I CAN DO IT.

I'm just a bit.. well, modest. >.> I don't wanna be on that weird chair/bed thingy with my legs spread... >.>
Awkward turtle? *does the hand bits*

I know. I'll make the appointment today probably.

I was offered the shot last year, but I was told I was almost too old to get it. I was 25 at the time. It would have cost me a lot of money, even with insurance, so I opted out of getting it.

Originally Posted by KeiKei Shunu

*nodnod* I CAN DO IT.

I'm just a bit.. well, modest. >.> I don't wanna be on that weird chair/bed thingy with my legs spread... >.>
Awkward turtle? *does the hand bits*

I know. I'll make the appointment today probably.

I think it might be a good idea to get it done at least once.
I guess I am not so modest and am OK with another person of my gender looking down there. No men are touching me down there however. Any man touching these parts had better be in an intimate relationship with me first.

I was only bothered by the pain. I cried out when it was done because it was so painful.
The thought of ever getting one of these done again makes me cringe.

@KeiKei
It's not as scary as people make it out to be. I had some nurse come to my gym class in high school trying to explain it all and it just freaked me out even more, then I went in for the exam and it really wasn't that bad. Embarrassing, yes, but considering all the stuff I heard about the different tests and seeing what was supposed to be stuck in me, it didn't hurt. Although, they could certainly warm things up a bit more...

@melody
It makes sense to try to get women to get the vaccine as early as possible to cut back on women contracting the virus but it just seemed odd that 26 was the age limit on when you can receive it. It's just like those nurses saying that all girls need to go to their obgyn by 18 because you know that they've been having sex by then (seriously, a nurse used that reasoning to prove that I needed the check up... funny since I was a virgin for a few more years post 18).

I remember having that. It was one of the most painful shots I've ever had. (All three of them were bad, not just one...) But it did feel good to protect myself, even though my fear of needles was unbelievably hard to overcome. I remember I kept backing into corners without realizing it when the person with the shot came out.

Wow Luumi, mine wasn't that bad. I mean, I don't like shots but at least this one was quick (well all 3 actually). The worst I've had to take was a test for some sort of disease that required the needle to inject me between the skin layers ><

Mike- all of my doctors have always used a heating pad to warm up the vice thing that holds you open. :P So I never really had the problem of it being too cold.

I was pregnant when I went for my first ob/gyn appointment so it was scary on a lot of levels. XD But The nurse was sweet and the doctor was nice enough and they made me feel comfortable enough that I was able to relax and it wasn't so bad. My next one after that however was with a different doctor and pretty bad. ;_; but worth it in the long run. I would much rather any disease be caught by a doctor before it gets bad. Not that my husband has any diseases, but some can be contracted other ways. (like trying on clothes in a dressing room can potentially get you crabs, or if you are trying on swimsuits random fluids could get you a disease (which is why you should always try things on with your panties on and wash them before wearing)

I can't remember why I got my first pap smear... my Mum probably made me :D
I really don't like them but I've had irrgularities picked up before so it's good to know that I may have prevented something worse from happening.

i need to get mine done.