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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

HPV vaccine, don't know what to do!

203 replies

Busymummy50 · 23/03/2021 23:47

Before a few days ago, only knew hpv vaccine was for girls. 13 year old brought home a consent letter last Friday. Vaccination takes place 29th at school.

Initially I thought it was a good idea. I had a smear which came back with hpv found and then had a biopsy years ago. Luckily I was ok and my immune system fought it off. So I knew all about it.

Then I looked into possible side effects and asked other parents (as boys have only been offer this since 2018, so not long). Friends sons have already had it and my son's friends at school are going to have it. But the more I've researched, the more serious side effects I'm finding. I know these have not been proven but I cannot help to worry.

I have consented but having second thoughts. My partner on the other hand is happy for the vaccine to go ahead despite my findings but is also happy is our son doesn't have the vaccine as most of the time our bodies would fight it off.

I just don't know what to do! Has anyone's child had it and had side effects or chosen not to have it and why? Does anyone have more information on these serious side effects?

OP posts:
lurker101 · 23/03/2021 23:52

I was one of the first years to have it at school (female) and have never had any side effects, nor have any of my classmates (that I know of) and none of us have had cervical cancer (that I know of), I think if you have genuine concerns speak to your GP/via e-consult, but I will be getting this for all future children.

GertiMJN · 23/03/2021 23:58

I had no qualms about dd having the vaccination. No vaccine is risk free but there was nothing I read that concerned me.

FinallyFluid · 24/03/2021 00:01

I am tired and I can't be arsed to write a long eloquent post.

Consent.

FinallyFluid · 24/03/2021 00:02

It ruined my life, it manifested itself in the tonsil area and I can no longer eat properly.

MarieDelaere · 24/03/2021 00:02

My DD was in one of the first ever cohorts to have it. She and all her classmates are fine, are glad they had it, and this year are being called in for their first cervical smear tests.

Amazing.

The vaccine is a wonderful free public health programme for girls, and now also boys, for the benefit of all young people.

HopeClearwater · 24/03/2021 00:07

@FinallyFluid what ruined your life, the virus itself? So you recommend the vaccine? It’s not clear from your post, sorry.

FinallyFluid · 24/03/2021 00:09

That is five years without any food that doesn't have a sauce.

No steak

No chicken

No protein, in essence.

No chips ( never really liked them anyway)

DS (17) asked for a lift to Mc D's the other day, he knows I used to have a MCD once a year pre tonsil cancer, he peeled a piece of his burger off for me the other day and said, you haven't tried for a while, so I did.

I have tiny fingernails, always have had, it was less than the size of my little fingernail, so I know that was under 3mm.

I ate it, and then spent 2.5 miles choking the bulk of it back.

Are you still wondering ?

FinallyFluid · 24/03/2021 00:10

HPV manifested itself in my tonsils.

Lou98 · 24/03/2021 00:20

I had the vaccine in school and never had any side effects at the time, or longer term. Neither does anyone else I know who had it.

I believe it is now offered to boys more to stop the spread to females (could be wrong but I'm sure that's why)

Personally I had no doubts at the time about it and neither did my parents, I'll have no issue with my DS having it when the time comes

EarringsandLipstick · 24/03/2021 00:34

I believe it is now offered to boys more to stop the spread to females

Not entirely. Yes this is correct to minimise the risk of cervical cancer (which obviously only affects women) but boys can also contract HPV & it is linked to other cancers & genital warts.

EarringsandLipstick · 24/03/2021 00:36

@FinallyFluid

It ruined my life, it manifested itself in the tonsil area and I can no longer eat properly.
That's awful.

Did you get throat cancer? That's one of the ways HPV can affect someone - other than cervical cancer, and genital warts.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 24/03/2021 00:38

What research have you done? What are your findings?
Are they peer reviewed papers or third party interpretations?

NiceGerbil · 24/03/2021 00:41

Of course she should have it.

I'm really glad boys get it now as well.

DazzlingHaze · 24/03/2021 00:44

I would allow him to have it. I'm pretty sure I got it the first year it was introduced and I haven't suffered any side effects. Neither have my friends that got it that I'm still in touch with. My only friend who didn't get it ,unfortunately, had to have precancerous cells removed a couple of years ago.

Lou98 · 24/03/2021 00:47

@EarringsandLipstick

I believe it is now offered to boys more to stop the spread to females

Not entirely. Yes this is correct to minimise the risk of cervical cancer (which obviously only affects women) but boys can also contract HPV & it is linked to other cancers & genital warts.

Ah is it? I didn't know that, I thought it was mainly for stopping spread. I'll definitely be consenting to my DS having it in the future then!

NiceGerbil · 24/03/2021 00:51

I looked at NHS just now boys are offered it.

Midlifephoenix · 24/03/2021 00:53

Throat cancer is the most common cancer HPV associated in males, they can get penile cancer from it too.
I paid for my son to have the injections as it wasn't done for boys in school then. No brainer.

purplepufferfish · 24/03/2021 02:36

I think it’s useful to question certain medical decisions when they pertain to yourself or your children.

But I can’t hnderatand the sudden hysteria about vaccines and their contents, as if any of us understand what is in vaccines anyway.

They’ve been giving out this vaccine for years and years. If it was dangerous it would not still be in production or use.

Consent to the vaccine for your son.

Mintjulia · 24/03/2021 02:47

My ds has it last week. No side effects, he didn't even grumble. Smile

Having watched someone die far too young of cervical cancer, I'd have paid for his vaccination if the school hadn't offered it.

Lochroy · 24/03/2021 02:58

@FinallyFluid I'm sorry, I can't tell from your posts. Are you saying you think the vaccine caused your cancer? Or that OP should go ahead due to what the virus can do? Initially I read it as blaming the vaccine.

Sorry for what you are going through Thanks

ginislife · 24/03/2021 03:01

I'm with @FinallyFluid. Mine manifested itself in my tongue. Tumour with HPV markers. Consultant said too many bj's 😀😀. So someone male gave it to me. I hope they were good 😂😂. I also still have issues around eating meat 2 years on, along with chocolate (claggy in my mouth), wine is not enjoyable like it was, and I can't tolerate chillis so curry's are gone. Please get both your girls and boys vaccinated

hahaohno · 24/03/2021 03:11

My ds had it. HPV can cause cancer in males too. With the vaccine gp's don't see many genital warts anymore which could recur for some people even after treatment and really effect them.

hampsteadmum · 24/03/2021 03:26

Both my DS and DD had the vaccine. No side effects. Public Health England (and all other countries in the world that offer the vaccine) would not recommend an unsafe vaccine.

TJ17 · 24/03/2021 03:56

When you say research do you mean Google? Because I'm pretty sure the doctors and scientists behind the vaccine have a damn sight better access to real research than you do...

Original poster
Busymummy50 · 24/03/2021 11:15

TJ17 I first looked on NHS website. It mentions a list if syndromes etc and that there is no link between the HPV vaccine and these. So that prompted me to look up those syndromes and HPV vaccine. Then I see that Japan has suspended this vaccine since 2014 and lots going on in Ireland too with parents of many girls saying they fell seriously ill after the vaccine. Then I see info about a boy called colton berret in America and similar other cases. I was also told of a group called AVHID in the uk and again, similar stories of kids having the vaccine and develiping chronic fatigue syndrome and more. Although none have which been proven to be caused by HPV, it just makes me scared and worried. I had the HPV virus years ago shown on a smear test and had a biopsy, luckily all was ok and I was clear of HPV the following smear. It was a scary time. So I understand that it is good to have the vaccine. There are some vaccines you hear not much of and some like this one and MMR that you do. Our children have been vaccinated all up to date so far so I am not against vaccines.

OP posts: