HPV Vaccine

[Teenminds]

14 yr old DD is due to have this tomorrow.
I don't know much about it and am frantically trying to get as much information as possible.
Looking back at previous threads, there were some concerns but they also dating back a few years.
The most recent information I can find is from early last year saying the effectiveness may have been overestimated
I do worry about long term side effects and trying to weight up the risks here.
Unfortunately I don't have particular trust in healthcare due to my own experiences.
I was just interested to hear people's thoughts and experiences with this one?

Dd had both of hers and has had no issues

I don't have any advice sorry but I was one of the first to have it in 2008/09 and I've never experienced any issues.

What does your daughter think?

I had them when they first came out and have not had any issues.

All my smears have been clear so far so I assume it's done the job.

I didnt have one (too old) and have had HPV.

Ive had pre-cancerous cells lasered off my cervix on more than one occasion, as well as countless painful and intrusive biopsies.

Its painful, annoying, and can drag on for years. Just thought Id give the other side, what can happen if you dont have the jab! I still class myself as very very lucky it never turned cancerous.

It's a highly effective method of reducing cervical cancer risk:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32997908/

The incidence ratio for girls vaccinated under 17 (versus those not vaccinated) is 0.12. This implies an 88% reduction in cervical cancer risk. Why wouldn't you do that?

DD had hers done through school. Wouldn't have crossed my mind to question it.

DD had hers done just before Christmas (at school).

I don't know whether they had been discussing pros/cons in lessons but she treated us to a speech about how very important it was for her to have it.

They were all hauled back in recently to get their teen boosters for meningitis, tetanus and polio etc.

I can't see a downside TBH (but the I do have a close friend that had a gruelling couple of years dealing with cervical cancer).

This wasn't available when I was a teen.
I have had constant issues with 'bad cells' from my late teens, all the way through my 20's and early 30's, then a bit of a break and at 40 my smear was tested for HPV
I have types 16 and 18 - so 2 of the baddies responsible for cervical cancer and also what is in the vaccine.
I wish I could have been vaccinated before I became sexually active.
The constant trips to the Colposcopy clinic, the massive amounts of invasive treatments over the years that I've needed and still continue to need is so shit.
The benefits outweigh the risks.

I would do anything to stop my daughters going through what I have gone through and a friend has gone through.

I had carcinoma in situ due to HPV and a lot of treatment (not all of it very pleasent) and then a friend at 32 ended up having a total hysterectomy, including her cervix and then radiotherapy internally. She hadn't had children by then and is now either going to have to adopt or use a surrogate (they did freeze her eggs).

When a vaccine is available to stop a lot (not all) of the above why would you not?

I wish more than anything the jab had been available to me when I was younger. The threat of cervical cancer hangs over me on a daily basis - I haven't had a clear smear in years and have had to delay babies as a result :(

@ChelseaCat

What does your daughter think?

She is currently of the 'whatever' attitude and doesn't really care when I have tried to speak to her about it. Her year was supposed to have it last yr but were missed due to covid, not being at school then or now I guess means that haven't had the chance to have the benefits explained to them . Thanks for all the replies so far, it is booked and I will go ahead, but I along with her have not had any information just a email to book an appointment, which was booked very quick, I've only had google to help me out!

Studies haven't shown any long term side effects, other than an enormous drop in HPV infections and resulting drop in cervical cancer and other problems.

Obviously a few people had random issues after the vaccine but no more than those who didn't have it, so you can't blame the vaccine.

Encourage her to go for it (my eldest just had it).

As someone living with the worry and wait of seeing if my cin1 cells have progressed and if my body has fought of the hpv infection that I must have had dormant in my body for decades my advice would be have the vaccine. one.hundred.percent.
I only wish I'd have had the option of having this vaccine years ago.

I'm a couple of years too old for the jab, however my last smear showed I was positive for HPV. Not enough for further tests now but it does mean I have another smear this year rather then in 3 years. I'd have it just to prevent that, I'm not even taking into account the amount of women I know who have had cervical cancer before the age of 30.

I meant I was a couple of years too old when they first bought it out.

I had my first smear test 20 years ago and have never had another once since however I was happy for DD to have the HPV vaccine. She was absolutely fine after it. I discussed it with her and the reasons for having the vaccine and ultimately left the decision up to her.

I think Australia had it before us and saw a massive drop in infections.

Thanks all, its been very helpful