Gardasil Question...

Atlanta Chick · 06-26-2008, 09:33 PM

So,
I was wondering, since there is a possibility that PCOS could potentially lead to Cervical Cancer *don't quote me, I read it some where, I don't remember where though... you know, the whole some say "yea" some say "nay" thing*... I was just wondering if I would be beneficial to receive the vaccine as a precaution?

I'm going to talk to my physician in like 2 weeks to get her input (and the vaccine, you can never be too careful these days)... what do you ladies think? Just some food for thought and some conversation!

I'd love to hear input from cysters who could give me some insight as to what the process of the vaccine is... is it just one shot? is it a series of shots? symptoms? side effects?

HippieMama76 · 06-26-2008, 10:03 PM

Not sure how old you are, but I'm fairly certain they won't give the shot to anyone over 25 or so. I do know that it's 3 injections over a 6 month period. I haven't heard anything about the PCOS and cervical cancer link, but what Gardasil does is protect you from 4 different strands of the HPV virus, which can end up causing cancer. I'm not aware of PCOS making it more likely for you to contract the virus. Gardasil protects from HPV, but does not prevent you from getting cervical cancer.

tiffanyleigh614 · 06-26-2008, 10:16 PM

On my last visit with the my gyno he suggested me get the gardasil shot, because cervical, and ovarian cancer already do run in my family and he said with pcos it does raise your risks. i'm still debating on getting it. are you currently on BCP and having regular periods or no? because i was talking to him about periods and wut he said is when you dont have a period all the lining and everything that is supposed to come out in a period stays up inside in your uterus, i think. not positive. somewhere up there though! ha but anyways that it stays up there and can cause cancer too, he was telling me about that because i hadn't had a period in over a year. goodluck deciding though, post if you doget it done and tell us about any side effects you experienced because i still am undecided on getting the shot and any info would help!

Mim · 06-26-2008, 10:31 PM

It's only been tested on (and therefore is only given the green-light) for girls between 9 and 26, but that's only because the infamous 'they' have decided that after 26 you've probably already been exposed to the virus (which is ludicrous- a 19 year old who's had 7 or 8 partners has a much higher risk than a 30 year old who's only had two).

It's up to you and your doctor to make that decision. It certainly can't hurt to ask about it.

Leafy · 06-26-2008, 10:51 PM

I'm actually a pediatrician, so I know a lot about shots! Gardasil protects against 4 strains of HPV. Types 6 and 11 in the vaccine protect against genital warts, not cervical cancer...but who wants those either? Types 16 and 18 in the vaccine cause about 70% of cervical cancer. Getting all 3 vaccines before any potential exposure to the virus is supposed to be 100% protective against those types. While that would give you protection against 70% of cervical cancers, there's still that other 30% that's not caused by HPV. Women still need to go for regular pap smears. After a person gets her first shot, the second is 2 months later, and the third is 4 months after the 2nd. The main side effect I've seen is a really sore arm, not much else. As the last person said, it is only approved for girls from 9-26 years old. I actually heard today that approval was denied for women over 27, so I don't know if there were problems with that age group.

dolphinluv · 06-27-2008, 02:15 AM

I asked my gyn about it and she is recommending the shot to just about everyone. I started my series of shots when I was 27. I had to pay mostly out of pocket, but I think it was well worth it.

Atlanta Chick · 06-27-2008, 02:58 PM

Thanks so much to ALL of you guys for answering the question for me! I'm 25 and I'll be 26 next April. I've scheduled my appt with my Dr for July 7th!

s to all my cysters!

msmedical2017 · 06-28-2008, 12:55 PM

like mentioned b4 the shot usually isnt given to women over 25 im 16 and i just finished my last shot its given as injections over a 6month period with 3 shots

1st one- at your dr visit
2nd one- 2monthes after the 1st
3rd one- 6monthes after the 1st

so for you it would be the 1st in july 2nd in september the last in january

also i would have your dr do a pap smear just to check for cervical 1st you can never be too safe

plastic stars · 07-05-2008, 06:14 PM

My gyno. suggested I get it, so I did. I've had 2 of the 3 shots. I haven't had any side effects except a sore arm.

SuperSun · 07-06-2008, 12:52 PM

I like to think I know a little about this too

I was a participant in one of the big international scientific trials of this vaccine before it was released on the market. This meant that I got either placebo or the vaccine three times over the course of six months (like someone explained here), and then was tested for HPV and had a pap smear several times a year for over 3 years. Turns out I did get the placebo, though, but was offered the vaccine for free after the study was over. Anyway, I ended up not having it, because I was nearly 25 and was told by the docs administering it that it probably wouldn't make a difference for me. Still, it wouldn't hurt, as they said.

On a side note, I did have cell changes on several occasions, despite the fact that I didn't get HPV. The changes turned out to be benign, and they also changed back to normal on their own after a while. The gyno said they probably would have never been discovered if it wasn't for me participating in the study and getting tested so often.

I guess the moral of my story is this: don't panic either way, you probably will be fine without the shots, but they probably won't hurt either. Everyone should have pap smears regularly, but even if they do find cell changes, they could be totally benign and go away on their own.

avenue · 07-06-2008, 11:20 PM

Okay this was a discussion in my nursing class and our professor said the main cause that gardisal is targeting is that women are having sex at younger ages, this means their cervix isnt ready to be "bumped up against" and this irritation can lead to cervical cancer. So Im not saying hes right or thats always the case but thats what he taught us. As a fun note I asked him how it could be true because women used to be married and have children at the age of 12 and 13, his response was most of the people in that time didnt live long enough to develope cervical cancer. So according to him I shouldnt bother with the shot. Just thought it would be fun to add. Plus I heard somewhere that it has aluminum in it, kinda freaks me out.

Atlanta Chick · 07-09-2008, 06:53 PM

Well ladies! I went today and got my first shot!

I feel that you can't be too sure nor too safe!

The experience... Well, the vaccine kinda stung while being injected. (Not bad though) And it's been about 8 hours since and my arm is just a little sore. YAY!

bluebug · 07-10-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avenue

Plus I heard somewhere that it has aluminum in it, kinda freaks me out.

Me too! Is it safe to put aluminum in your body? I don't know. I just know that I heard some girls have had seizures after getting the shot. So my dd who has epilepsy will not be getting it.