Gardasil?

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Posted by Its2Snappy

I usually am a proponent of any kind of medicine / vacine that would reduse risks for cancer. HOWEVER, I do not believe the side effects of this particular vaccine are worth it. HPV is extremely common. In fact, if you are over the age of 26, your doctor will automatically assume you have it (heard this from two OBGYNs). Something like 80% of the population has it.

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I agree. Another reason why I didn't get it - and my doctor advised me of this - is that there hasn't been extensive research on this vaccine. No one knows what kind of long-term side effects it may have 20, 30, 40 years from now.
My mother, who is a registered nurse, advised me not to get it due to not knowing the long-term effects.

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Posted by Sora777

I wonder why only up to age 26.

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thats just the ages that they've studied it - it's not dangerous to get it after that though... many people do! They probably will approve it in other age groups at some point too

You can get the vaccine up until your 27th birthday I was just at the gyno in June and as usual he is hounding me to get it but I wouldn't. I have done a lot of research on this and me being a nurse and all I have strong feelings against it.

1) I refuse to get it because it hasn't really been around that long to see what the long term side effects are.

2) I have researched A LOT about this and there are girls out there who have had very nasty side effects from it, including seizures.

3) Women have survived for decades upon decades without this drug and I just feel that healthcare is always ready to inject new things in us.

Then again this is just my opinion and my reasons for not wanting it.....Do I know people that have gotten the injections before? Of course, and yes they are fine. My doctor pressures me all the time and 'assures' me that it's safe but like I said I just don't feel that this drug has been out long enough to see what the true long term effects are, if any, and that is my main reason for not wanting it.

I have had HPV and had to get surgery because of it - I got the shot

If you had HPV it will prevent all strains of it except the one you have

Definately do it all you need to pay is the copay

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Posted by stinenandy2010

I got....and I completely agree with Sandra. If I can prevent certain types of cancer by getting three little shots, why not? I had no side effects what so ever.

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ITA with this - all i had is some arm soreness - so worth it

Time to add in my two cetns to this...I work in pharamceutical research, and from my knowledge of how things work with new drugs, I will not be getting gardasil...
Yes, it does protect you from 4 strains of HPV that are the most common cancer causing strains, but did you know that a majority of us have had HPV and not known it? There are several stains that your own immune system can fight off without you ever knowing!! What they also dont tell you about the vaccine is that you are not protected for life!! The immune system will keep producing the antibodies for a total of 3 years...yep, three whole years!! Is it really worth the series of shots, possible side effects just for peace of mind? If your in a monogamus relationship, do you really have to worry about contracting HPV?
I have seen one too many times new drugs released on the market that are suddenly thrown back in the research world (while it is still being sold to the public mind you) because new information came out about the effects of the drug/vaccine that are harmful to patients. When they do a research study, only a small handful of the population (a couple of hundred people...) are screened. When these drugs make it on the market and now hundreds of thousands are taking it, alot of new side effects/consequences of the drug are found...and sometimes they find these things out too late...

No matter what you decide to do about getting the vaccine, just please please please, do some research on it first and dont just read the propaganda from the pharma companies only...