Hype Over HPV
by Asia Calcagno
I became highly upset while hustling through news articles regarding the HPV virus and vaccination. Between ignorant arguments about the vaccine promoting sex, doctors who do not have a clue about what to tell their patients, and how some health care practitioners are pushing for the vaccination to become mandatory, there are many sides to this issue. Wow. It seems as if we have become so close to a so-called-cancer-cure but still-not-a-cancer-cure that we are taking our findings and running wild with them. Did we forget about what the patients believe? What about the woman's choice?
I remember visiting my doctor for a check up shortly after turning sixteen. I was not scheduled for any shots, but my doctor suggested that I get a shot of Gardasil. He did not tell me much about the facts behind it, but I decided to receive the shot anyway. The first dose should be scheduled by your doctor by an appointment. Two months after your first dose, the second dose will be given. The Gardasil vaccine will be completed by your third dose which would be six months after your first. My doctor did not tell me this information. After doing my research and becoming much more aware on what exactly this shot is about, I do not ever recall getting a scheduled appointment for my second or third dose. This definitely rattles me because of the lack of work doctors are doing to help their patients with this new vaccine.
Yea, yea, yea. Gardasil ads seem all positive on TV, and hooray for those who want to become "one less." (There is no shame in your game ladies). But we should not allow advertisement to suck us in like a load of fools! Even our doctors are parading around recommending Gardasil while they are just as ambivalent to this new find. Just because our doctors and commercials are telling us that we should get this Gardasil vaccination, we should be doing our own research. There have been complaints of fevers, pain, nausea, vomiting; you know, the regular side effects. But paralysis and deaths have also been recorded after young women have been vaccinated with Gardasil. I fear for those patients walking into their doctor's office unsure about what they are getting themselves into.
A crazy idea crossed my mind; I decided to go around and play reporter. I walked into different Planned Parenthood establishments and requested to speak to a nurse for information about the HPV vaccination. After being badgered with employee's skeptical questions at the front desk, I got nowhere near a nurse. While on the train, I asked random women and men, as well as family members and friends, if they knew anything about the HPV virus and vaccine. My answers were mostly, "I'm not so sure about that." So, because of this, I decided to become an activist.
Lisa Sousa, staff member at Young Chicago Authors, has been following up with articles regarding this issue. "It is because I consider myself a feminist, and am interested in things that affect the lives of young women. We should be paying attention." When asked her thoughts on the vaccination, she gave me her insight. "If you have a family history of cancer, sure. But if I wanted my daughter to get the vaccination, I'd have to do some research first."
At least someone agrees with my beliefs on this topic being wishy-washy. Women are not being given the information that they need to decide if this vaccine is right for them or their daughters. Some are building a wall not even wanting to be bothered with the so-called nonsense. We should not be suffering from surprise side effects and not know why. It is as if either way we lose. If we choose to be safe and get vaccinated, there still may be the chances of developing the virus along with its genital warts. If we choose to neglect all of the advertisements; we can definitely develop genital warts or the HPV virus. This vaccine just recently came out in 2006, and we have not given it time to be tested and seen what it can actually fester into. Only two years have passed and we can look left and right to see that you can get your hearty dose of Gardasil at your local Dominick’s Food Store. Crazy, right?
It is my job to school you youngsters on this epidemic just in case you are not aware. Many may not know that at least half of our sexually-active American population will become infected with genital HPV during their lifetime. There are 20 million Americans who are carriers of this virus right now! Some of whom do not even know that they are carriers, men and women alike!
"Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI)," says National Women's Health Information Center. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genitals of men and women. Genital HPV is passed on through sexual contact during vaginal and anal sex. A person can have HPV even if they have not had sexual contact in years. But it is more serious than you think. There may be no symptoms, but if you are a carrier of the virus, you are at risk of developing genital warts and also being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Women are falling victim to these risks simply by being oblivious to what this virus is.
The word may be getting around about HPV, but some may not understand there are preventions to protect from the virus and warts. You can begin by using condoms during intercourse. You may say, "Duh, I know that. I'm not stupid," but some people are not as educated as others. If used all the time and correctly, this can lower the risk of this virus along with other STIs and STDs. Areas not covered by condoms are at risk of being infected with genital warts, so if you do not want warts, celibacy and abstenance are other options offered to promote a healthy lifestyle. Pap smears are offered at your local doctors office to detect any abnormal cells during a gynecological exam before they become cancerous.
Luckily women, we have a choice! Meanwhile, the HPV vaccine is offered to girls and women ages 9-26, but parents and women should definitely have a say in the decision. It seems the main reason for not getting this vaccine is because it is not a "cure" for cancer. So, why make it mandatory? You can get cervical cancer even if you do not have HPV. It makes no sense to be injected with a vaccine that you have not educated yourself about. Gardasil can surely make a difference, but I just say, "Don't believe the hype."
"I was nervous about getting the HPV vaccine because I didn't know exactly what it was about. I completed all three of the shots," says Star, an 18-year-old woman. Many women her age who I have spoken to have not gotten their HPV vaccines mainly because the vaccine does not fully protect them from cervical cancer. There are no facts available if being vaccinated creates an upward spiral, downward spiral, or continues a straight line to your health. But, the vaccine offers to protect you from different forms of HPV and genital warts if exposed to them in the future. This is no cure for cancer, and it does not protect against all forms of HPV and other STDs or STIs that are not caused by HPV. Women, we should always keep our options open. So, take my advice and choose freely on what it is that you want to do. Not everyone is being vaccinated, and I am not the Queen of the World pointing you in the direction to go. Be vaccinated if you choose, but be aware of what it is that you are getting into. All advice bombarding your ear is not always good. Cervical cancer and the HPV virus are no joke! Be aware or be square, we always have a choice.
For more information about the HPV virus and vaccination, visit www.gardasil.com.