Has anyone chosen not to allow their daughter to have the hpv vaccine?

[namechanger70]

I am not madly keen on vaccinations per se but if they are necessary then my children will have them. My daughter is due to have the hpv vaccine soon. When I last looked into this several years ago there was a lot of bad news about this vaccine, its use was suspended, albeit temporarily, in some countries and you do not need to look very far to find accounts of tragic consequences for some. How much of this is true and what proportion of people it affects is a moot point.
Is there anyone on here that is knowledgeable on this subject and decided not to vaccinate their children with this vaccine? It is extremely difficult to make an informed decision; many articles may be scaremongering and I don’t think reading official sources is necessarily any better as they are only going to be pro vaccination. Happy to receive any constructive thoughts. Thanks very much.

I was treated for pre cancerous cells over a period of years, wish this was available to me. Cervical screening saved my life.

My first smear came back positive for HPV and I am now considered high risk and on yearly smears. I at mid 20s.

I was vaccinated in the first round of vaccines at 17years old. Seems I was already carrying it or it wasn't affective.

Almost all cervical cancer cases occur in women that have been previously infected with HPV.

My daughter will be vaccinated when the time comes. Why take the risk of something can be done to prevent.

I was in one of the first year groups to be offered it, and my DM and I decided against it for a few reasons. I had many many instances of undiagnosed fitting episodes as a child and teen, and there were reports at the time of the vaccine causing seizures, and I didn't want to risk it. It also only prevents one specific strain of HPV out of hundreds if I remember correctly. I was sexually active but in a long term relationship at the time, I can count my partners on one hand and as I've settled down and had DD young it isn't a concern for me.

I can only tell you my personal experience.

I had the vaccine when it was first brought in (before it was routinely offerered in schools - girls 16-18, I think, were able to get it at their GP) and I’ve suffered no ill effects.

HPV can be very dangerous. I urge you to do research from REPUTABLE sources (eg reputed medical journals and institutions) before making a decision. The NHS do not offer vaccinations on a whim - they are stringently tested before being made publicly available.

I have 2 daughters and they will both have it.

If I had sons and it was available to them they would have it.

If they were giving it to women in their 30s who didn’t already have HPV I would have it (assuming I don’t have HPV. I also married the only man i’ve ever slept with but I’m not naive enough to think it’s impossible that I could have it).

I had the vaccine the first year it came out. I was older, 17/18 and I'd previously had unprotected sex and Drs now know this affects the reliability of the vaccine if you've already contracted HPV prior to the vaccine.

I have HPV. because of this, it has caused me to have CIN2 on my cervix. However that's not the worse of it. I have VIN3, which are like precancerous cells, on my vulva. If they spread any deeper into the tissue, it will become vulval cancer. I have surgery booked next Tuesday. They plan on taking about a £2 coin size area of skin, on my inner labia, perinium and slightly into my vagina. I find out tomorrow exactly how much they're going to take, how it will affect me, if I'll need a skin graft. Currently, it causes me pain, bleeds every time I wipe myself, it's very difficult to have sex, it's beyond itchy, it stops me sleeping, stings when i wee, it affects me every day. Hugely. All because of HPV. AND if that's not bad enough, there's a good chance it'll reoccure some place else on my vulva.

So do you vaccinate? YES YOU DO. Im VERY lucky it's been caught now, they've got me into surgery ASAP. Im 26 years old with 2 children. It's massively affected my life and there's a chance it'll keep affecting my life.

"I'm just hoping it's routinely offered to boys too by the time DS is old enough"

It depends where you live. In England they announced in July this year that it'll be given as routine for boys age 12-13, but there ill be no catch up programme for boys already older than than that.

My two girls had it at school, and I've recently had my son vaccinated privately, following the diagnosis of HPV related mouth cancer in a male friend.

I’m 25 and didn’t get it as a teen. More out of circumstance than choice. I was unwell the day they did them at school- they gave me me a second appointment at a shopping centre 🤔 but we lived super rural and on the day my mum couldn’t take me - had no way to get there and idk we just never rescheduled. (Mum didn’t say no but it was not a priority for her).

As an adult I really worry I should have had it

I wish I could have had the vaccine. I had CINII and ended up having a LLETZ after which I had daily bleeding for over a year. I also needed increased monitoring during pregnancy which cause me a lot of worry. I'll be vaccinating my children.

i think at 13 years old though she is old enough to make her own decision about it rather than her mums views
And that is exactly how healthcare operatives will view it under Gillick Competency.

Iamanotheranon hugs and wishing you all the best for your surgery and recovery. Glad they caught it

I work in sexual health and see so much angst and psychological harm caused by genital warts, prevention would be so much better than cure for all HPV related illnesses, not just the high risk HPV strains that cause cervical/anal/vulval/oral cancers. Gardasil prevents infection with type 6 and 11 (commonest causes of genital warts) and types 16 and 18 (the highest risk cancer strains)

Just had ds’s vaccinated privately
You should Imo do it

I work as a school vaccination nurse in Surrey. We will be offering to the boys next September.
Unfortunately my son will be too old for it.

@RonSwansonsMustacheComb I've also just been diagnosed but in my tongue. Good luck to your mum.

I had CIN3 a few years ago. It was absolutely awful. I am now clear but high risk.

You would be insane to refuse the vaccine.

I find it frustrating that people refuse the vaccine as they think it encourages early sexual activity or promiscuity. Probably the same people who think educating children about sex makes them have sex too early (despite evidence to the contrary). Once vaccinated you are protected for life.

I was given the Rubella vaccine at age 11 in the days before MMR- only girls were given the vaccine as Rubella is risky to the unborn baby if you get it when you're pregnant. I don't remember anyone back then saying it would encourage us to run out and get pregnant straight away.

@namechanger70 I know you say you're not anti vaccination "per se", I'd argue that
"How much of this is true ... is a moot point."
...is pretty much the motto of your average anti vaxxer.

Have a look at this information by public health England (which I would class as reputable)
publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2018/06/18/ten-years-on-since-the-start-of-the-hpv-vaccine-programme-what-impact-is-it-having/
The figures are staggering, over 99% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV. HPV often has no symptoms and is easily spread and can even spread when a condom is worn. Therefore it can be present in the body for years and years.

Australia eliminating cervical cancer in 20 years is massive. It is currently 4th most common cancer for women.

I think it is an error to refuse the vaccination. If she got cervical cancer in the future I would never be able to forgive myself knowing how easily I could have protected her from that

My dad had HPV related throat cancer. It was awful.

I made sure my daughter was vaccinated earlier this year.

Bombay - what year group will they be starting with for boys? I think mine will miss out (currently y10).

I am not madly keen on vaccinations

Yep, those pesky life saving bastards.

At 13 the vast majority of girls are Gillick competent and do the decision should be discussed with your daughter and a decision made taking into account her views.
My daughter choose to have the vaccine herself she read and listened to the evidence and made her own decision though I agreed with her.

I had the vaccine in the first batch after it was released. I had flu like symptoms for less than a day and then felt fine. How well it worked I couldn't tell you.

I have two teenage daughters who I have opted out for this vaccine. The decision was in no shape or form taken lightly, my children are my world and so after much research, speaking with actual doctors who opt out for their children,it is actually a bigger risk in a number of issues than to not have it.. Please don't is all I can say and obviously the final decision lies with yourself.. Good luck!!