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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Y8 HPV vaccination

66 replies

FirstInThenOut · 07/12/2022 11:29

If you dc had this, did they have any side effects? My dd has hers on Friday but she has been under the weather with various bugs for 2 weeks and I am a bit apprehensive.

I take it this is a needed in arm, right, she is not keen on that and a bit worried, she'll cry when she gets it.

I can't remember but many years ago someone said to me that they support all childhood vaccines bar this one due to side effects. I am the opposite of an anti vaxer (!!!) and my dc have had all their scheduled vaccines as well as nasal flu ones and Covid.

Please can you share your experiences with the HPV vaccination?

OP posts:
Original poster
FirstInThenOut · 07/12/2022 13:59

Dontknownow86 · 07/12/2022 13:40

I can share my experiences of having hpv, I had to have a colopscopy as I tested positive for it then lletz surgery where they removed part of my cervix with a cauterising loop. It was deeply unpleasant, as was the healing process. I wish they'd given the vaccine when I was at school.

💐💐

OP posts:
Original poster
FirstInThenOut · 07/12/2022 13:59

That's all really positive and helpful, I will show dd this thread. Thank you!

OP posts:
ArcticSkewer · 07/12/2022 14:03

No side effects
I also have had it (paid), no side effects
My daughter said a few girls at school said they felt a bit dizzy afterwards.

greenacrylicpaint · 07/12/2022 14:06

my dc (both sexes) had theirs.
no side effects at all.

Zanatdy · 07/12/2022 14:06

My DD had it last year and no side effects at all. Some kids might have side effects, but a lot less than if they ever did get cervical cancer which a vaccine could have prevented. My DD was happy to have it, I explained the reason for it and I was happy for her to be protected. No difficult choice for me - it was a no brainer. She had also been unwell for a while, she was late getting it as she had low ferritin for a long time which wiped her out

OopsAnotherOne · 07/12/2022 14:07

I had this vaccine when I was in school years ago OP. I don't remember any of the girls getting any side effects other than a sore arm for a day or two and I felt absolutely fine afterwards. I actually preferred the vaccinations in school as you're getting them alongside your classmates, who can all encourage each other.

It's a really important vaccine to get and I'm glad my mum consented to it.

sashh · 07/12/2022 14:10

Nothing to add to others experience, but tell her to cough as the needle goes in, it hurts less.

Useruser1 · 07/12/2022 14:14

Is the HPV virus only sexually transmitted, as it seems to say here?
www.gov.uk/government/publications/hpv-immunisation-programme-introduction-of-gardasil-9-letter

youcantry · 07/12/2022 14:15

My daughter had it and is now a perfectly healthy 23 yr old. She didn't have the MMR until she was 12. I paid for her to have the vaccines separately. My friend didn't allow her daughter to have it but that was because her family have BRCA1 and my friend had a voluntary double masectomy.

TheDishElopedwiththeSpoon · 07/12/2022 14:28

@useruser1
Basically yes, HPV is sexually transmitted. It causes the vast majority of cervical cancer and can also cause head and neck cancers (there’s a link to oral sex) and penile cancers.
Even though it’s sexually transmitted and so therefore theoretically avoidable if you never have sex or only ever have one sexual partner who has also only ever had one sexual partner (ie. 2 virgins marry and stay faithful forever), public health policy recommends that everyone have the vaccine at about 12 or 13, well before having sex. This protects everyone. If people decide that young people shouldn’t have the vaccine because it’s a sexually transmitted virus then people can and do become infected through no fault of their own - a spouse might cheat on you, for instance, or lie about having previous partners, or say they’re a virgin because they have not ´had sex’ but actually they have had sexual contact with a previous girlfriend or boyfriend, just not full PIV sexual intercourse.

JusteanBiscuits · 07/12/2022 14:41

youcantry · 07/12/2022 14:15

My daughter had it and is now a perfectly healthy 23 yr old. She didn't have the MMR until she was 12. I paid for her to have the vaccines separately. My friend didn't allow her daughter to have it but that was because her family have BRCA1 and my friend had a voluntary double masectomy.

Why on earth would being BRCA positive cause her to deny her child a life saving vaccine? I'm not sure what a mastectomy has to do with it either!

GooglyEyeballs · 07/12/2022 14:43

I had a HPV vaccine in high school, I can't remember how old I was exactly but I didn't have any side effects and 16 years later I am completely fine and also HPV negative on my smear test this year. Glad I had it.

JusteanBiscuits · 07/12/2022 14:43

HPV is linked to anal and rectal cancers too.

I had llietz treatment before the vaccine was available. I had only ever had sex with a condom. Condoms aren't great at preventing HPV in penis in vagina intercourse.

Ivyblu · 07/12/2022 14:44

I'm nearly 32 so there was no vaccine around. However I got the shock of my life one day.... when it flashed up positive through a smear there's so much misinformation around it STILL.

I would urge any teen to have the vaccine.

spare123 · 07/12/2022 14:45

It's a normal vaccine. The people who have all vaccines other than this are generally religious nut-jobs who think it'll make their kids rush out and have sex.

Chouetted · 07/12/2022 14:47

My arm hurt for a day or two. Top tip from me would be, if you're a side sleeper, and you only sleep well on one side, ask for it to be in the other arm!

Absolutely one of the easiest vaccines I've had. MMR was worse.

Notanotherusername4321 · 07/12/2022 14:48

youcantry · 07/12/2022 14:15

My daughter had it and is now a perfectly healthy 23 yr old. She didn't have the MMR until she was 12. I paid for her to have the vaccines separately. My friend didn't allow her daughter to have it but that was because her family have BRCA1 and my friend had a voluntary double masectomy.

  • if your friend is brca+ and at increased risk of cancer why would she refuse a vaccine that reduces the chance of her daughter getting cancer?

clearly her understanding of genes, genetics and how cancer develops isn’t great.

houseargh · 07/12/2022 14:50

The reason people didn't support this vaccine back when it was introduced was based on a ridiculous notion that it was somehow encouraging sex in teenagers (the horror), though I'm sure plenty of people dressed that up as concern about the side effects. I've also had a LLETZ (thank god not cancer) and if my mother had in any way discouraged me from getting this vaccine (not available when I was a teenager) I would have found that unforgivable. Sorry if that sounds dramatic, but this is literally life and death - cannot begin to imagine why you would not

SquidGinn · 07/12/2022 15:00

Dontknownow86 · 07/12/2022 13:40

I can share my experiences of having hpv, I had to have a colopscopy as I tested positive for it then lletz surgery where they removed part of my cervix with a cauterising loop. It was deeply unpleasant, as was the healing process. I wish they'd given the vaccine when I was at school.

I had the vaccine and still tested positive for HPV and went through the same procedures as you - it is painful!

VisaGeezer · 07/12/2022 15:25

TheDishElopedwiththeSpoon · 07/12/2022 14:28

@useruser1
Basically yes, HPV is sexually transmitted. It causes the vast majority of cervical cancer and can also cause head and neck cancers (there’s a link to oral sex) and penile cancers.
Even though it’s sexually transmitted and so therefore theoretically avoidable if you never have sex or only ever have one sexual partner who has also only ever had one sexual partner (ie. 2 virgins marry and stay faithful forever), public health policy recommends that everyone have the vaccine at about 12 or 13, well before having sex. This protects everyone. If people decide that young people shouldn’t have the vaccine because it’s a sexually transmitted virus then people can and do become infected through no fault of their own - a spouse might cheat on you, for instance, or lie about having previous partners, or say they’re a virgin because they have not ´had sex’ but actually they have had sexual contact with a previous girlfriend or boyfriend, just not full PIV sexual intercourse.

I think there's a question mark over kissing, so they might have to have to have not kissed anyone either.

VisaGeezer · 07/12/2022 15:25

Extra have to, sorry!

VisaGeezer · 07/12/2022 15:26

SquidGinn · 07/12/2022 15:00

I had the vaccine and still tested positive for HPV and went through the same procedures as you - it is painful!

Show quote history

Fk I thought the vaccine was supposed to prevent that.

I suppose it has a range of effectiveness.

VisaGeezer · 07/12/2022 15:27

Notanotherusername4321 · 07/12/2022 14:48

  • if your friend is brca+ and at increased risk of cancer why would she refuse a vaccine that reduces the chance of her daughter getting cancer?

clearly her understanding of genes, genetics and how cancer develops isn’t great.

Show quote history

I'm absolutely puzzled by that post too.

Beneficialchampion2 · 07/12/2022 16:02

Truth be told I'd rather be under the weather for a few days than get cancer but that's just me.

spare123 · 07/12/2022 21:45

VisaGeezer · 07/12/2022 15:27

I'm absolutely puzzled by that post too.

Show quote history

The friend is clearly a bit dim......