HPV Cervical Cancer Vaccine

[Mother Goose]

Ok, so I heard on the radio tonight about this vaccine being free for females 12-26. I;m (just) in that age bracket and starting to think about getting it. The program doesn't commence until July 2007. I haven't read anything on the vaccine yet so wondering if anyone has any info or thoughts on it? i.e. reliability, success etc. I will do an internet search tomorrow but wondering what the BBers know and think!

MG

[Mother Goose]

You can get it through your GP or I think you can also organise it through your local councils immunisation program.... if you look up australia DOT gov DOT au there is a link to some info on it...

[Janie]

If I hadn't already been exposed I would definitely be looking into getting the vaccine.

I'm not a great believer in immunisation, but having cervical dysplasia, as a result of HPV, is a massive PITA! I've had problems with it for 7 seven years now, it's only come under control about a year ago it stays that way.

Don't know much about the vaccine itself, so not saying everyone SHOULD have it, but it's definitely worth looking into.

[Danni]

I was actually part of the market research for the vaccine. Basically, if you have had intercourse with atleast one person who has had intercourse with atleast one other, you have a VERY high chance of being exposed to the virus already.

You may not know it, and may never get any symptoms, but its still in your system. Once you have it, I dont think you can get rid of it?

The vaccine doesnt protect against all cervical cancer, just the ones that start off from HPV.

A year or so ago, they were saying it would be 3 injections at about $100? Does anyone know if thats still the go?

[Tissy]

I was actually part of the market research for the vaccine. Basically, if you have had intercourse with atleast one person who has had intercourse with atleast one other, you have a VERY high chance of being exposed to the virus already.

You may not know it, and may never get any symptoms, but its still in your system. Once you have it, I dont think you can get rid of it?

The vaccine doesnt protect against all cervical cancer, just the ones that start off from HPV.

A year or so ago, they were saying it would be 3 injections at about $100? Does anyone know if thats still the go?

I have just been to the doctors about this vaccine, it is going to be free for those women who are eligible from the 1 July 07, you can get it prior to that, for a cost of approx $160 a needle, so timing that by 3.. I think I will wait until July.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

In the UK it's given to all 14 year olds now. Because they're all going to sleep around and have multiple partners by the age of 17 so why not vaccinate them against something they're going to catch?

Sorry, just my take on the advertising here. I won't be getting it done nor will I allow my daughter to have unnecessary vaccinations. Regular smear checks are more important as viruses mutate so quickly and there are so many different strains a vaccination will be pretty useless, IMO. But the media and advertising have really put me off too!

[Sibbie]

I got it through school a few years ago... the student welfare teacher pretty much so made us get it, if you didn't get it she would get VERY cranky (that went for any vacs) lol she was a scary lady! I just got it, didn't really think about it much... what i've been thinking lately tho is they really didn't ask us many questions before we got it - I sat down, the nurse asked "are you pregnant?" i said "hells no" and she laughed and jabbed me. I was about 17/18 when i got it... what 17 year old is going to outwardly say "yeah sure I'm pregnant" if they are???

We only had one girl in my whole year that had a funny reaction... she fainted when she got it, but that was apparently because she hadn't had a needle in so long and she was really nervous, he body got a shock or something... it wasn't the nicest thing to see as we were all waiting to get the jab!!

We were the first lot to get it (at my high school), then they went through the rest of the years and now I think the start it in year 8... so thats like 14ish yr olds? that was just the school i went to, it might be different elsewhere.

As far as i know it only really works if you have had no sexual partners, so i guess that's why they are giving it to girls young...

hmm. I hope it isn't bad... I didn't realize I was a guinea pig!! Guess I shoulda done some reasearch

[danniellabella]

I asked my doc about this on Monday and they haven't got it in the clinic yet. We were kind of talking about other things so didn't really go into it much, but he said that if it's free for my age group then when it's available, get it. So I'll find out when it's going to be available and then book in for my jab.

[aussienic]

subbing because I am curious about this as well

[Danni]

I havent heard anything since they were researching it about a year ago. But yeah, Im pretty sure what Tanya said.

And I meant if you have had unprotected sex with others not just protected.

[Cherie]

I would like to do a bit more research about it .. not for myself (DH and I were each other's only partners) .. but in case I ever need to think about it for my daughters, if I have any. I would like to know more about whether they have studied it long term (e.g. 20+ years) to see whether it will have any future effect on fertility if given to young girls. Does anyone have any info?

[Mother Goose]

Just want to clarify that even if you hae only ever had one sexual partner and always use protection, you are still at risk.

[S'rose]

Danni -I think it depends on the strain you have. I have had HPV for quite a few years and I am one of the unusual ones who still carries the strain in my blood but have no symptoms after treatment.
I thought most women have immune systems that can remove the virus without ever knowing they had it, and then there is the unfortunate group who get cervical changes leading to cancer.
I have to have testing every 12mths as part of study group at RWH Melbourne. Speaking of which, my appt happens to be next week. Does anyone want me to ask the nurses a question about the vaccine??

[briggsy's girl]

Sonya - would be great to get some more info on the vaccine, so if you could ask, it would be awesome

i'm going to miss out on the free vaccine by a matter of about 6 weeks - bummer!

[meegm]

What upsets me is that i have had HPV (cured itself after having lazer treatment) and i have had CIN3 and i think that i should be able to get the vaccine aswell.. its not just girls in that age bracket that need it, i am alittle annoyed about it.

Its not just transmitted sexuily it can be passed on via your mother when she gave birth to you......

[meegm]

Well according to My Gyno it would you can get chicken pox a second time and i could get HPV again.

They cant tell you which strain of HPV you have had there are like over 100 differnt types of HPV - there is no real comparison to the chickon pox comment


I copied this from a Website -

If I’ve already tested positive for HPV, will the vaccine help?

It depends on what type of HPV you have been exposed to. The vaccine won’t cure an HPV infection that you already have such as genital warts, pre-cancers (changes that usually happen before a cancer starts to grow), or cervical cancer. It could, however, protect you from the types of HPV that you have not come in contact with. Many people who have HPV are not infected with all four types of HPV that the vaccine targets. Since there is no test available to tell for sure if a women has had just one or all four types of the HPV virus, it is recommended to get the vaccine.

[Janie]

Tanya, I think your understanding of it is right.

Meg, I wasn't aware that it could be passed on to your children? I've had HPV leading to CIN1 (you poor thing having CIN3!) which was an absolute bastard to get rid of. I am clear ATM, I'm assuming that means I won't pass it to my child?

Having read your posts, I'm a bit annoyed too that we can't get it for free (though I miss out on the age bracket by a couple of months anyway!). It does seem a little unfair.

[Lilly-Pilly]

Does it inclue people who are 26 now?? Or 26 the cut off point??

I think I'd want to know more before I did anything, I don't know much about it