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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have paid for an HPV vaccine myself today...

43 replies

happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 17:10

(posted this in 'vaccines' but doubt will have much response and I want to know if I'm being unreasonable to a) get it and b) resent being, through no fault of my own, within an age group whose health has been disregarded)...

I'm in the unfortunate age group that Labour missed out when changing various health policies. Basically, I cannot get a smear test on the NHS until I'm 25 and am too old by a fair few years to get the HPV vaccine on the NHS. A friend of mine who is young, healthy etc - but happens to have parents living in Monaco who demanded she went for a smear test whilst visiting them - found she had pre-cancerous cells and had to have them lazered out. I truly hate to think what could have happened if she hadn't had the test.

So, today I had to pay £60 for a smear test and £580 for the jab (including £100 for the consultation) at a private medical practice because I value my health more than the money (which wasn't lying around, I'm now in a terrible position rent-wise). I understand money is tight and there are various medical reasons for putting the age back but my doctor, and my usual GP, both agreed that there are young women within a certain age range who have been seriously let down and are now at risk.

Am I being unreasonable to think this is terrible?

OP posts:
lenga01 · 04/11/2010 17:34

YANBU at all. Im 22 now and had to basically force my Dr to give me a smear test in the summer.
I have a four year old daughter and have close family links with cervical cancer at a young age, yet they were incredibly resistant to letting me have a smear test. Even whilst doing it she was telling me that I was being silly for wanting one!

If I had the money available I would also pay for the vaccine.

Bramshott · 04/11/2010 17:43

I thought the vaccine was only effective if you were not sexually active?

Original poster
happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 17:59

Nope, apparently not. It's only 70-80% effective but that's good enough odds for me right now.

Lenga - feel your pain. My friend was 22.

The bloody vaccine is £160 X 3 (3 doses of it over 7 months) and painful.

OP posts:
twopeople · 04/11/2010 18:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 19:59

I definitely can't pay my rent but tbh that's a problem for another day - I don't want to die.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 04/11/2010 20:07

YANBU.

Once I have finished breastfeeding DS, I will be getting it. I am incredibly grateful that I was in the age bracket when it was brought out.

Shock at the cost.

BosomForAPillow · 04/11/2010 20:22

SirBoobAlot can I just ask, does bf affect the results? I am bf dd but due a smear. Have had bad experiences of smears in the past (last time had to have 3 smears in a row because of botched samples) so would not want to go through that again.

Sorry for hijack.

SirBoobAlot · 04/11/2010 20:26

They wouldn't give me a smear because I was under 21 Hmm but advised me to put off the jab until after DS had stopped feeding. So no idea, sorry Blush

BosomForAPillow · 04/11/2010 20:31

Thanks. I suppose jab could affect your milk whereas smear obviously wouldn't. I thought I heard that bf hormonal changes could come up as cell changes in smear test though.

frgr · 04/11/2010 20:33
Shock

i went for my first smear at 21, i was always told that you go once you become sexually active

no one ever mentioned an age limit to me - this must have changed in the last few years? i advised my sister a while ago because she'd never had one, and she's in her early 20s - AFAIK she had no problems? maybe it helps that she has a little girl?

is this policy set by the NHS or your individual Dr's surgery?

Northernlurker · 04/11/2010 20:34

YANBU - I still cannot believe they put the age up to 25 for the smears. That's 10 years or more of sexual activity for some people!

Sidge · 04/11/2010 20:44

This explains why routine cervical screening isn't indicated for under 25s.

If any woman has worrying symptoms eg bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, unusual vaginal discharge, pain during sex, then a smear would be done. Symptomatic cervical cytology can be done at any age but screening is limited to those most at risk.

YANBU to pay for the jab - it's your money to spend as you choose.

Original poster
happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 20:48

frgr no it's NHS policy.

Sidge - my own GP and private doctor today both agreed it's too old and a cost saving initiative.

OP posts:
Sidge · 04/11/2010 21:15

Well the cynic in me would say of course your private doctor would say that - he's just made a profit of about 300 pounds from you Wink

IME no GP would ever refuse a symptomatic woman a smear, regardless of her age. But the NHS as a machine has to be cost effective and evidence based, and the evidence is that screening under 25s is counter-productive.

Casmama · 04/11/2010 21:20

The vaccine will only be affective if you have not come in contact with the HPV virus. As this virus tends to have no symptoms, unless you have never been sexually active or have always used a condom, you have no way of telling. I personally feel that you have wasted your money on the vaccine and that the smear should have been enough to put your mind at rest. However, it is your money and if it gives you peace of mind then YANBU.

Glitterknickaz · 04/11/2010 21:24

Being as the HPV jab has reduced effiacy once you are sexually active as you may have already been exposed to the virus it probably would have been more cost effective to pay for an annual private smear. Think BUPA do them for about £60-£70

Original poster
happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 21:43

My NHS GP refused. She tried and tried again, calling me with updates, yet could not get the authorisation to go ahead because of my age.

Sidge - so you think it's 'cost effective' to greatly increase the chances of women under 25 developing cervical cancer? wow.

It is reduced yes, but the jab still hugely reduces the chances. TBH what is £480 compared with your health!?

OP posts:
ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 04/11/2010 21:47

I'm 24 had two (technically) partners - should I have the HPV? Had no idea I could!

Original poster
happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 22:09

You cannot have the vaccine if you are over (about - not sure) 16.

You cannot have a smear test until you are 25.

The vaccine costs £160 x 3 (need 3 doses over 7 months) and a private smear costs £60.

-- I haven't had that many sexual partners and have been with DP for a while, intend to be forever... but the vaccine does still protect me hugely so IMHO is worth it.

I just think it's wrong that we have been totally disregarded - no scans until 25 and no vaccine.

OP posts:
Ewe · 04/11/2010 22:14

but you might already have HPV, in which case, it won't protect you at all?

Clearly the NHS are totally unwilling to spend that kind of money on a vaccine that in many people won't work. Surely if you haven't caught it already and you're never sleeping with anyone else again it's pointless? At this point you either have HPV or don't?

I don't know much about how it works to be honest so would be interested to know.

Ewe · 04/11/2010 22:15

Oh and I am 23 and have had no problems getting smears, they did them as standard upon registering you as a patient if you were female and sexually active at my last GP.

Glitterknickaz · 04/11/2010 22:21

I'd still pay for private smears in your shoes. If you already have HPV it's not going to stop it developing... and if you're not having screening it could be developing and you'd be oblivious.

Prevention rather than not-definitely-going-to-work cure for me any day

SirBoobAlot · 04/11/2010 22:23

Its 18 for the jab.

LynetteScavo · 04/11/2010 22:29

If I were you I would have just had yearly smears.

And I speak as someone who had the virus, and had pre-cancerous cells removed.

YABU to think it's terrible.

Original poster
happiestblonde · 04/11/2010 22:37

I don't think I'm being unreasonable in the slightest. My best friend was 22 and had pre-cancerous cells which (she was told by doctors who I would presume know more than we do) would have caused her serious problems had she waited til she turned 25 and was allowed a smear test in the UK.

OP posts:
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