Guardasil for my girls?

[Anonymous]

Any parents out there that got their daughters the Guardasil vaccine for HPV?

My oldest is 11 so she does fall into the recommended age range, but according to the Guaradsil's website it can be up to age 26. So should I wait? Is there any advantage to getting the shots early vs. later? I was thinking if I wait until the teenage years it might be more in context for when we have The Talk, but maybe not.

We don't have any family history of HPV so that isn't really a risk factor.

We have a check-up with the pediatrician in a few months so I can ask the doctor then, but just wondering in the meantime (does the pediatrician administer the shot or only ob/gyns?).

[Anonymous]

We have a 14-year-old. We are waiting as long as we can. Gardasil is pretty new, and I don't think our daughter is involved in any activities that would warrant its use. I think we will give it to her, eventually. I would advise holding off as long as possible, however.

[Anonymous]

Well, I have a son, but I also have HPV. I caught it at 17 via sexual activity, had abnormal paps, etc.

If I had a daughter, I'd get her the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

PP here. I was sexually active (responsibly, with protection and education) before I was 17. It only took one episode of heated irresponsibility, which, let's face it, isn't exclusive to teenagers.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't take full on intercourse to spread HPV- just a little finger genital to genital touching does the job (and I was 15 when I first experienced "just touching."). My parents certainly didn't know about it and even if I told them now they would be shocked.

How do you know you don't have a family history of HPV? It's not routinuely tested for and most people have no idea they have been infected.

From the CDC website:

HPV is one of the most common infections in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the lifetime risk of acquiring HPV infection for sexually active men and women is at least 50%. By 50 years of age, at least 80% of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. It is estimated that 6.2 million people in the United States become infected with HPV each year, and, currently, an estimated 20 million are infected with HPV, including approximately 9.2 million sexually active adolescents and young adults 15–24 years of age. The majority (74%) of new HPV infections occurs among those 15–24 years of age, and in women <25 years of age, prevalence ranges between 28% and 46%.

I'm definitely vaccinating my girl when she hits 10.

[Anonymous]

PP here who counseled caution with regard to this vaccine. We gave our younger daughter some new vaccine when she was an infant that was supposed to protect against rotavirus. It was later withdrawn because it was shown to cause potentially life-threatening bowel obstructions. Following this experience, we are still pro-vaccine but ONLY after its safety has been proven for a number of years. That's why we are holding off on vaccinating our daughters for as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

Family history of HPV is irrelevant. You catch this from contact. It is not passed genetically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any parents out there that got their daughters the Guardasil vaccine for HPV?

My oldest is 11 so she does fall into the recommended age range, but according to the Guaradsil's website it can be up to age 26. So should I wait? Is there any advantage to getting the shots early vs. later? I was thinking if I wait until the teenage years it might be more in context for when we have The Talk, but maybe not.

We don't have any family history of HPV so that isn't really a risk factor.

We have a check-up with the pediatrician in a few months so I can ask the doctor then, but just wondering in the meantime (does the pediatrician administer the shot or only ob/gyns?).

My DD is only 8, so this is not yet an issue (but may be soon), but I would get it for her earlier rather than later. HPV is very widespread in the population and very transmissible. Kids don't need to engage in full intercourse to be at risk -- any touching can do it. I caught HPV from the very first guy I slept with, so perhaps my experience informs my desire to make sure my daughter is protected long before I think she might be engaging in any kind of sexual activity.

I also had "bad" pap smears 3 years after being treated for HPV and went thru painful laser surgery to more fully address the HPV. Thankfully, I've been HPV-free since then, but that experience also informs my view that HPV is not an illness that should be taken lightly.

Also, HPV is a transmissible virus --- family history of HPV is irrelevant.

My understanding is that the vaccine is NOT recommended if one already has caught any one of the many HPV strains -- although someone else out there please correct me if I'm wrong.

BTW, my DD is young but we have already had "the talk", or more accurately many many unfolding talks where she asks a question and I answer honestly. I figure if she's old enough to ask, she's old enough to deserve an answer. "The talk" has morphed into many q &a's on sex, domestic violence, straight/gay relationships, boys in general, reproductive choices, abortion, AIDs and other STDs, divorce, etc. Sometimes it's tricky to be honest and open but still age appropriate.

I've been a little surprised that she asks so many questions, particularly since our house is "sheltered" (i.e. very little TV or popular culture), but DD is an excellent reader for her age and listens to news radio and reads the paper and follows politics, so she gets some exposure there.

[Anonymous]

PP - thanks for such an insightful post. My sister also had HPV and it was really concerning when she had subsequent laser treatments. My DD will definitely be getting Guardasil.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the feedback and comments.

-the OP.

[Anonymous]

I'm not giving DD Guardasil. It only protects against a few strains of the virus, and I do not trust that it is safe. When she's older, she can decide for herself. By that time there will be more evidence about this vaccine. I also gave her the rotavirus vaccine on the recommendation of my doctor, and was very upset later when I found out that vaccine had been withdrawn because it was not safe. I agree with the PP who is waiting before giving her daughter Guardasil. Some girls have died from this vaccine, and I am not willing to take that risk with DD.

[Anonymous]

I would rather keep my daughter protected from the most common strains than nothing. I was reading that Guardasil may also have protective benefits for boys in preventing some male cancers.

I remember fooling around A LOT younger than my parents were even aware! Younger pre-teens and teens often think if there is no penetration, then they can't spread disease - WRONG! HPV is serious and there are multiple options to prevent it - I will be using all of the tools available, including vaccination and some open discussions with my daughter about sex and STDs.

[Anonymous]

Have had several friends get HPV. Will def be getting this for my DD (not old enough yet).

[Anonymous]

I have heard some pretty crazy stuff about Gardasil. Find a good DR and make a decision.

[Anonymous]

We won't be getting it. My daughter has all her other vaccinations up to date, but this one I do not believe has been out long enough to know the true safety record. Essentially all the children getting it now are the trial subjects. We'll wait and see what happens to them.