HPV Vaccine For Boys?

Diana - posted on 10/27/2009

Ok-so I'm totally playing devil's advocate here...



In the U.S., there are almost 250,000 reported rapes each year. If it's true that about 60% of rapes and sexual assualts are not reported, then we can assume there are around 500,000 rapes a year. Every 2 minutes someone is sexually assaulted. These are statistics from the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, and the numbers are taken from the Department of Justice's 2007 National Crime Victimization Survey. Only 6% of these asaulters ever go to jail-most (15 out of 16) live to rape another day.



Now I'm not wishing this on *anyone*-but the fact is that according to these stats, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be assaulted in their lifetime.



Now I'm sure that the stats of women and men who contract HPV this way is pretty slim, but even still-is it not worth giving the vaccine for that reason alone-that someone can be an unwitting victim and contract it that way?



Why do people assume that someone who is sick has done something wrong?



Illnesses are not punishments for sin. I doubt God works that way. And if he does, I'll be damned if I want anything to do with him. And if you say that an STD is punishment for sin, then when does it stop? Is cancer a punishment? Was it a punishment that I had PreE and had to deliver my son early, who had to spend 5 weeks in the NICU? And what about all the people who do bad things who don't get diseases-why aren't they punished?



Everyone definitely needs to be responsible when having sex with multiple partners-or even one partner, who might've had others. However, as we've come up with a vaccine to prevent this particular disease, one that is often transmitted even through safe sex, we should use it and make ourselves even safer.

Isobel - posted on 10/26/2009

you speak of "that disease"...which disease...cancer?

Traci - posted on 10/21/2009

Quoting Mary:

Quoting Traci:

I think Christa's point was that if everyone was more responsible with who they slept with, we wouldn't have all this crap floating around...or at the very least we wouldn't have 50% (I can't even believe its that high...ew) of the population with it. If sleeping around with strangers was frowned upon, as it should be, all these diseases would not be so prevalent. I see those commercials for Valtrex saying 1 in 5 Americans has herpes...that is GROSS! I know its a lot to ask....but, people...can you please refrain??? All these diseases are completely preventable and unnecessary. And now we've got these poor kids becoming vegtables from the side effects of these shots and stuff. It's not like HPV is airborne. You can prevent it through means other than vaccines.

Yes, I do practice what I preach, by the way.

Also, I understand, as in someone's case, that you can be "responsible" and still contract the disease....but someone...somewhere down the line had HPV. Which means someone was irresponsible at one point or another. If you only had one partner your whole life and got it from that one partner...then HE is the one who made the mistake at one point in his life. My point is that someone, somewhere down the line, shouldn't have been sleeping around/with someone who had a sexual history.

I guess we all seem to have different definitions of what sexual responsibility is, though....to each his own.

I am SO glad I got married early on and avoided all this baloney, though!

Traci, I'm glad that having sex with one person worked for you, but what about your children?  Please do not delude yourself into thinking that they will necessarily grow up and make the same choices you did...despite your very best efforts, and the example that you and your husband set, they may make different choices about sex.   Sadly, I have seen this time and again...children from "good" homes who, despite having June and Ward Cleaver for parents (and often having model siblings as well), end up pregnant and/or with STD's.  The poor parents are always shocked and bewildered, and ill-prepared to deal with the realization that there comes a time when you cannot control or predict your child's behavior.  You can give them the best foundation possible, but ultimately, they will make their own choices, and they are not always the ones you encouraged them to make.

I too value marriage, family, and "sexual responsibilty", but what I value most is my daughter's safety and well being.  I have seen too much to delude myself into believing that she will always make the choices that I think are best.  I will do whatever I can too protect her from letting one "lapse" in judgement negatively impact the rest of her life. 

Yes, I totally understand that.  No matter what example we set for our kids and no matter how much we ingrain our values into them, I realize that they will do what they want to do.  I don't expect my kids to be completely perfect or anything.  But I still look at that disease as a consequence to an action.  You play, you pay.  I will not be givng that vax to any of my kids, male or female. 

Traci - posted on 10/21/2009

Quoting Sara:

Quoting Traci:

I'm extremely leery of this vaccine. This story ran last Sunday in our local paper. Poor girl....

http://clareswinney.wordpress.com/2009/1...

I have to say here that adverse reactions apply to all vaccines, but that's not a reason to pull it from the shelves or stop giving it.  If you look into the adverse reactions associated with the Gardasil vaccine, there's really not enough proof to link the adverse reactions to the vaccine if the first place.  The only association is in time, meaning that the adverse reaction occurred sometime after vaccination  I think the article you posted is just more of that anti-vaccine crap that's floating around the internet that is based on no real scientific or epidemiological data, and is just meant to scare people by invoking an emotional response. I would be interested to know if the girl mentioned in the article had a history of seizures (which is listed as a contraindication to getting the vaccine).   Here's some more info:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/g...

Yes, I totally see your point, Sara.  I know the same thing can happen to kids getting all kinds of vaccines...including the ones that I have let my children get.  It's just that HPV is something that is caught during an act of intimacy...something completely preventable.  Polio...chicken pox....and all those other nasty ones are not as preventable and that's why I believe those illnesses would warrant a vaccine.  I think it should be up to the parents whether or not they want their child to get it or not.  As long as it stays voluntary, I'm okay with it.  But I've heard of places trying to REQUIRE it for school attendance.  That is just not okay in my book.

I am almost positive this girl has never had a history of any other medical problems.  Maybe I'll write the paper and ask :)

Starr - posted on 10/19/2009

Quoting Jodi:

Quoting Starr:

I think this saying is most appropo for these types of situations and whether to vaccine or not: (sorry if it's a bit crass for some)

"When you have a boy, you only have to worry about one penis. But when you have a girl, you have to worry about them all..."

Oh boy, that philosophy brings back some memories for me......

My oldest brother was actually 15 months younger than me.  I remember very clearly my parents not allowing me to go on a camp out with a bunch of friends when I was about 17.  It WAS a mix of males and females, but I had absolutely NO sexual interest in any of the guys AT ALL.  We were all just really good friends (I think in some ways it bothered my parents that I had male friends - but none of them were boyfriends, I kept those ones secret, LOL).  I accepted their decision, and kicked up a small fuss, but didn't take it too far.....

WELL!!  Then, a couple of months later, they allowed my brother (15 months younger than me) to go camping out with a mixed sex group.  I was really pissed!!  Can you blame me????  I asked them why he was allowed but I wasn't.  I was told "because he can't get pregnant".

Need I say more.......

 

Oh, now that is just wrong!  The quote is more of a means to show the greater worry I think we place on girls.  But...I have made myself a promise to do my best to keep this in mind when setting rules for my kids (I have one boy and two girls) that rules don't apply to one but to all.  I had a good friend whose parents let the sons do whatever and they kept her under lock and key.  Well..you can imagine how crazy she went when after high school.  She got so bad her parents forced her to move back home. Poor girl.

Sara - posted on 10/19/2009

Quoting Traci:

I'm extremely leery of this vaccine. This story ran last Sunday in our local paper. Poor girl....

http://clareswinney.wordpress.com/2009/1...

I have to say here that adverse reactions apply to all vaccines, but that's not a reason to pull it from the shelves or stop giving it.  If you look into the adverse reactions associated with the Gardasil vaccine, there's really not enough proof to link the adverse reactions to the vaccine if the first place.  The only association is in time, meaning that the adverse reaction occurred sometime after vaccination  I think the article you posted is just more of that anti-vaccine crap that's floating around the internet that is based on no real scientific or epidemiological data, and is just meant to scare people by invoking an emotional response. I would be interested to know if the girl mentioned in the article had a history of seizures (which is listed as a contraindication to getting the vaccine).   Here's some more info:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/g...

Jodi - posted on 10/19/2009

Quoting Starr:

I think this saying is most appropo for these types of situations and whether to vaccine or not: (sorry if it's a bit crass for some)

"When you have a boy, you only have to worry about one penis. But when you have a girl, you have to worry about them all..."

Oh boy, that philosophy brings back some memories for me......

My oldest brother was actually 15 months younger than me.  I remember very clearly my parents not allowing me to go on a camp out with a bunch of friends when I was about 17.  It WAS a mix of males and females, but I had absolutely NO sexual interest in any of the guys AT ALL.  We were all just really good friends (I think in some ways it bothered my parents that I had male friends - but none of them were boyfriends, I kept those ones secret, LOL).  I accepted their decision, and kicked up a small fuss, but didn't take it too far.....

WELL!!  Then, a couple of months later, they allowed my brother (15 months younger than me) to go camping out with a mixed sex group.  I was really pissed!!  Can you blame me????  I asked them why he was allowed but I wasn't.  I was told "because he can't get pregnant".

Need I say more.......

Starr - posted on 10/19/2009

I think this saying is most appropo for these types of situations and whether to vaccine or not: (sorry if it's a bit crass for some)

"When you have a boy, you only have to worry about one penis. But when you have a girl, you have to worry about them all..."

Mary - posted on 10/19/2009

Quoting Traci:

I think Christa's point was that if everyone was more responsible with who they slept with, we wouldn't have all this crap floating around...or at the very least we wouldn't have 50% (I can't even believe its that high...ew) of the population with it. If sleeping around with strangers was frowned upon, as it should be, all these diseases would not be so prevalent. I see those commercials for Valtrex saying 1 in 5 Americans has herpes...that is GROSS! I know its a lot to ask....but, people...can you please refrain??? All these diseases are completely preventable and unnecessary. And now we've got these poor kids becoming vegtables from the side effects of these shots and stuff. It's not like HPV is airborne. You can prevent it through means other than vaccines.

Yes, I do practice what I preach, by the way.

Also, I understand, as in someone's case, that you can be "responsible" and still contract the disease....but someone...somewhere down the line had HPV. Which means someone was irresponsible at one point or another. If you only had one partner your whole life and got it from that one partner...then HE is the one who made the mistake at one point in his life. My point is that someone, somewhere down the line, shouldn't have been sleeping around/with someone who had a sexual history.

I guess we all seem to have different definitions of what sexual responsibility is, though....to each his own.

I am SO glad I got married early on and avoided all this baloney, though!

Traci, I'm glad that having sex with one person worked for you, but what about your children?  Please do not delude yourself into thinking that they will necessarily grow up and make the same choices you did...despite your very best efforts, and the example that you and your husband set, they may make different choices about sex.   Sadly, I have seen this time and again...children from "good" homes who, despite having June and Ward Cleaver for parents (and often having model siblings as well), end up pregnant and/or with STD's.  The poor parents are always shocked and bewildered, and ill-prepared to deal with the realization that there comes a time when you cannot control or predict your child's behavior.  You can give them the best foundation possible, but ultimately, they will make their own choices, and they are not always the ones you encouraged them to make.

I too value marriage, family, and "sexual responsibilty", but what I value most is my daughter's safety and well being.  I have seen too much to delude myself into believing that she will always make the choices that I think are best.  I will do whatever I can too protect her from letting one "lapse" in judgement negatively impact the rest of her life. 

Traci - posted on 10/18/2009

I think Christa's point was that if everyone was more responsible with who they slept with, we wouldn't have all this crap floating around...or at the very least we wouldn't have 50% (I can't even believe its that high...ew) of the population with it. If sleeping around with strangers was frowned upon, as it should be, all these diseases would not be so prevalent. I see those commercials for Valtrex saying 1 in 5 Americans has herpes...that is GROSS! I know its a lot to ask....but, people...can you please refrain??? All these diseases are completely preventable and unnecessary. And now we've got these poor kids becoming vegtables from the side effects of these shots and stuff. It's not like HPV is airborne. You can prevent it through means other than vaccines.



Yes, I do practice what I preach, by the way.



Also, I understand, as in someone's case, that you can be "responsible" and still contract the disease....but someone...somewhere down the line had HPV. Which means someone was irresponsible at one point or another. If you only had one partner your whole life and got it from that one partner...then HE is the one who made the mistake at one point in his life. My point is that someone, somewhere down the line, shouldn't have been sleeping around/with someone who had a sexual history.



I guess we all seem to have different definitions of what sexual responsibility is, though....to each his own.



I am SO glad I got married early on and avoided all this baloney, though!

Charlie - posted on 10/18/2009

Just stating that sexual intercourse is not the only way to contract HPV .
Sorry i just found it a little damning "Not if you wait until marriage until having sex and your partner does too. I guess we have different ideas of sexual responsibility." to those who didnt wait till marriage are they not responsible EVEN if they have only had ONE previous partner ??
I sure hope you practice what you preach .

Jenny - posted on 10/18/2009

Marriage is a waning tradition and certainly not a standard for when one should have sex. It is based on when one feels it is worth it for whatever their personal reasons happen to be.



I still will not be going near the vaccine or marketing it to my kids. I will let them make the final call though after a thourough discussion of the pros and cons when the time comes.

Charlie - posted on 10/18/2009

well then i hope all the holier than though people who are " sexually responsible " by your terms Christa know the sexual history of their parents and grandparents because HPV can be transmitted both before and, possibly, during birth .

Starr - posted on 10/18/2009

I am so glad that this conversation is still going! Thank you all for your responses. I think, with regards to sexual responsibility, that we have to keep in mind that there are going to be teens who have sex irresponsibly regardless. Until we can be sure that teens are going to practice safe sex it's best for both genders to get this shot as long as it does what it promises and proves safe in the long run.

Charlie - posted on 10/18/2009

Current statistics on HPV indicate that at least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have been infected with genital HPV infection.
Those are HUGE percentages , a LOT of people are affected by this , most of the women on this thread will have it by the age of 80 .
Even if you or your partner has only slept with one other person the risk is high , it only takes that extra person to become infected .

Most people will never know in fact some of you may have it now and not know , have you been tested ??

You can be responsible and practice safe sex and the chances of getting it are still high , condoms DO NOT prevent STD , i agree with Joy NEVER ASSUME that someone with HPV fits some completely whack stereotype you have in your head , ANYONE can have it your next door neighbor , your childs teacher , a family member EVEN you .

Joy thank you for sharing .

A friend of mine had HPV and after her gardisil shots the HPV has completely disappeared.

JL - posted on 10/18/2009

I am LIVING PROOF of being responsible and still I ended up infected with HPV. And it was not like my husband and I each had a long list of sexual partners.



You have between a 50 and 70% when practicing safe sex with one partner who has between a 50 and 70% chance when practicing safe sex with one other previous partner in contracting the virus from them and the reality is that they may not know they contracted it and may not test postive for it until years later into your relationship.



They may only show mild symptoms that because of negative testing for years could be presumed to be something else by doctors, especially if you are someone with skin allergy conditions that mimic the mild symptoms and then you get married having both tested negative and then boom a few years later after years of negative tests you test positive.



DON'T ASSUME that because someone has HPV that they are sexually irresponsible. Condoms are not 100%, you will not neccessarily have symptoms, and you will not neccessarily test positive within a couple years after exposure. It does not speak highly of someones character when they choose to ASSUME AND JUDGE. Get off your high horse of purity because NO ONE is free from sin. Some of the reasons for our social problems....GREED AND JUDGEMENT.

Jenifer - posted on 10/17/2009

Actually, condoms don't provide good protection against HPV - I read a study in the NEJM not too long ago that said they offered between 50 and 70% protection. Not that I think being sexually responsible isn't important, but for HPV you can be responsible, and still end up getting infected with it.

Erin - posted on 10/17/2009

I don't understand why we need a vaccine for this? Why do people not just wear CONDOMS while they have sex and then have your partner tested before you have unprotected sex (which you would hopefully only be doing if you are married or planning children...) This is for cancer that you get when you have unprotected sex and get STDs why not nip it in the butt and NOT have unprotected sex??? AND then if you are having unprotected sex you get tested between and after different sex partners... ugh I don't get it?

Traci - posted on 10/16/2009

I'm extremely leery of this vaccine. This story ran last Sunday in our local paper. Poor girl....



http://clareswinney.wordpress.com/2009/1...

JL - posted on 10/14/2009

I am also tired of all the tv commercials geared toward male enhancement..seriously can they focus on something else.

JL - posted on 10/14/2009

It just irritates me even more when you think about the time, money, and attention that is paid toward Viagra.

Starr - posted on 10/14/2009

I read the article with the same disgust and anger. It literally ruined my night. How can anything that can prevent cancer be deemed not cost effective?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was outraged!

JL - posted on 10/14/2009

My OBGYN told me when the Gardsil shot first came out that he and other OBGYN's were pushing the FDA to put out the shot for males. He recommended to me that I get my daughter and son vaccinated around age 12. He felt that boys and men needed to get the shot as well because otherwise vaccinating women would end up being a useless process. We do have OBGYNs out there fighting for the male vaccination.



It is men whom are the carriers of HPV but it is women who face the serious medical risks associated with HPV. In order to successfully combat the spreading of HPV and the risks of developing cervical cancer, boys and men must also be vaccinated so when our daughters are adults and having consensual sex they will not be putting themselves unknowingly at risk with a man who may unknowingly be a carrier.



The reality is that some people never develop the direct signs of HPV, it takes some years before they have even minor signs, and some can test negative for years after they have contracted the virus so the only way to truely prevent the spread of HPV is too vaccinate everyone. It only takes having sex with one man who has had sex with only one other women to contract HPV.

ME - posted on 10/14/2009

Sometimes I think things are improving, only to wake up to something profoundly disappointing all over again.

Diana - posted on 10/12/2009

I can't say that this surprises me, but it still sucks an awful lot. We're still sending the wrong message to girls about sex and sexuality-that it's ok for boys to have sex, but girls who have sex are sluts.



Yes, yes, I know that she'll be the one who ends up with the baby if they get prego-but really, as we pointed out elsewhere (I think it was in the convo about whether you'd put your daughter on BC without telling her), unplanned pregnancies are not the absolute worst that can happen when people (teens or adults) engage in unprotected sex.



It's been a long-standing thing for boys to carry around condoms in their wallets from the time their teenagers, if only just for show-but if a girl is on BC, we fear that she'll be "more likely" to have sex.



I'm rambling...But basically, I hate, hate, hate the double standards implicit when sex comes into play.

Sara - posted on 10/12/2009

It's a man's world, I think that's still true. That's why more money is put into researching diseases that kill men, that's why more money is put into developing drugs to treat men's illness....

Lindsay - posted on 10/12/2009

It makes me wonder how many medicines and things do we have to knowledge for but never get put out there because the dollar profit is not high enough....