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<p>Your link is from the CDC and I posted a quote from the FDA. They seem to be worded differently to me. Sorry if I posted duplicate information. </p>
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<p>Since Gardasi, according to the FDA, does not seem to cause blood clots, why screen before injection. It’s not a hormone which is well known to cause blood clots in an at-risk population.</p>
<p>So what exactly do people mean by saying that one can be too old for this? My son is 21; would he be too old? (He’s gay, and occasionally active.)</p>
<p>I got the shots and had no issues. Is age actually a problem if you’re not sexually active? I always thought that the age thing was just that if you’re over a certain age and sexually active, you’re likely to have been exposed already.</p>
<p>“Too old”? Probably the main issue would be whether one is (or is likely to be) sexually active, and, if so, whether one is in a long term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected person. (That would apply to gay guys as well as hetero couples.)</p>
<p>Note that even if one is infected with one type of HPV, the vaccine may be useful against other types of HPV.</p>
<p>Yes, I’ve always heard it is effective only (?) if given before a person is sexually active. Which makes me wonder whether the stats re effectiveness are acccurate. Girl is at the doc with her mom in the room. Doc asks if she is sexually active and D lies and says no.</p>
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<p>The raw data is meaningless, however. Looking at the numbers only, and not causation, is like saying that drinking water causes heart attacks because 200k people died within hours or drinking water. So far, from what I can tell, there is no connection between Gardasil and blood clots. That is what the CDC and the FDA are saying.</p>
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<p>This is not true at all. There are many different types of HPV (30 or so identified types. I’ve lost count. About 12 are oncogenic). If you have a type that the virus prevents, you still have the virus. But is will protect you from getting other types. It is most effective for those who have never contracted this sexually transmitted virus.</p>
<p>Sexual activity should not change the HCP prescribing habits.</p>
<p>So why are we hearing that some young adults are “too old”?</p>
<p>With all due respect to a few posters, quite a bit of the information in this thread is incorrect or incomplete. </p>
<p>First of all, neither Gardasil or Cervarix is 100 percent effective. The issue of being given before patients are sexually active is that the vaccines are NOT effective when patients are already infected with the HPV virus. The vaccine is also only effective against the HPV sub-types listed in the studies.</p>
<p>For a general perspective, this is a good site to check:</p>
<p>[Gardasil</a> (Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine) Drug Information: User Reviews, Side Effects, Drug Interactions and Dosage at RxList](<a href=“http://www.rxlist.com/gardasil-drug.htm]Gardasil”>http://www.rxlist.com/gardasil-drug.htm)</p>
<p>For people interested in a deeper analysis, I would suggest to check the papers and agenda available here: </p>
<p>[27th</a> International Papillomavirus Conference and Clinical Workshop -](<a href=“http://www.hpv2011.org/index1.asp?siteid=1&pageid=1]27th”>http://www.hpv2011.org/index1.asp?siteid=1&pageid=1)</p>
<p>As far as US research, I’d suggest to google the names Wentzensen and Schiffman.</p>
<p>Missypie- once my kids reached a certain age I did not stay in the examination room the entire time. Our pediatrician is good about having the parent leave so the teen can speak honestly with the Dr. This is for well care visits. For sick visits she has the parent stay in the entire time.
Older D got the gardisal vaccine when she was 22. I know she was already sexually active but she had tested negative for HPV. Younger D got the first shot last year at 16. I was the flaky parent who never took her back for the 2nd and 3rd shot. She goes in again later this month. I am not sure if she will need to start over again. Anyone know?
Hadn’t thought about it for S who is 21 and in a relationship.</p>
<p>This is a very informative thread!</p>
<p>A few weeks ago, I sent DS off to the pediatrician for his pre-college physical. He had a print-out of the college vaccination requirements. </p>
<p>While at the doctor’s office, DS called me and said that the pediatrician wanted me to know that my insurance might not cover the Gardisal vaccination. (I checked later, and sure enough, it does not.) I asked DS if his college required it – I’m pretty sure I asked him to check the print-out – and he said “yes.” So I said fine, go ahead with it. I mean, if it’s required, it’s required, what are you going to do?</p>
<p>A few minutes later it occurred to me to maybe double-check this. I logged onto the college website, and sure enough – Gardisal is recommened, but NOT required.</p>
<p>So I quickly called the doctor’s office. It was too late – the injection had already been given. But I spoke with one of the nurses, who said she absolutely would have her son (who I think will be going off to college next year) get this vaccine. She made me feel it was the right decision – in addition to being a done deal!</p>
<p>So now, after the fact (I had no clue what Gardasil was before DS called me from the doctor’s office), I am learning about it and curious to know more. All the info and links in this thread are very helpful. I will probably have DS get the second and third shots, but at least I have some informed questions to ask the doctor before making that decision. (Although actually, it is DS’s decision, since he is over 18. But he will also be interested to learn about this, I hope!)</p>
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<p>I can’t speak for the others, but what I meant by that was that the insurance stopped covering it after I turned 18. My gyn still offers it to me when I see her so I suppose I could still have it (I’m about to turn 22), but it’s not financially feasible without the insurance coverage. But I don’t think I’d bother with this one anyway. I get annual pap smears and std screens, I make bf go and get tested every year too, and at this point it does not seem worth the money or risk-- if my relationship were less serious it might be different.</p>
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<p>I’m not sure who you are hearing this from but I suspect you are not hearing in from medical professionals. Everyone needs to know that HPV isn’t just one virus. There are many sub-types and only some cause cancer. You can contract a sub-type of HPV but still be protected from other sub-types.</p>
<p>mom60 - the current recommendation is to not start the series over again.</p>
<p>xiggi - please correct me if I’m giving out wrong info but I don’t believe I am.</p>
<p>In our area, almost every doctor recommends it for their patients. D’s doctor had her own 3 daughters get the vaccine. My D has had the vaccine as well. Earlier this year, my college grad S came back home for his annual physical. He also got the vaccine. I was a little surprised that it had been recommended for males as well. Oh well, he’s over 18. It was his decision. I just wish he’d been a little better informed.</p>
<p>The published recommendation is for ages 9-26. [CDC</a> - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Vaccine](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html]CDC”>http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html) Most doctors will adhere to those recommendations and insurance may not cover it outside that range.</p>
<p>My H is an OB-GYN. He was absolutely adamant that D receive the vaccine as soon as she fell into the guidelines.</p>
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<p>I truly believe that people who want to learn more about the HPV virus, the possible positive impact of vaccines such as Gardasil and Cervarix, AND the various screening tools (tests and others) should read up on the research. Merck and GSK have spent large fortunes researching, testing, and lobbying. As a result, there is a lot of information available for review. In addition, since the vaccine has been aggressively pushed (not a bad thing overall) most doctors should have a basic to extended knowledge of the benefits and potential dangers of the vaccine, and hopefully a complete understanding of the screening for HPV. </p>
<p>A discussion forum should not be a substitute for a detailed discussion with doctor, or for an extended research on the subject. </p>
<p>As far as information that missed the mark (and because you asked) please be aware that there is no evidence that Gardasil protects anyone from HPV strains except the sub-types 6, 11, 16, and 18 (out of more than 100 strains.) Merck cannot (and does not) claim that Gardasil is effective for patients who are already infected since it is NOT. </p>
<p>Fwiw, the inherent limitations of the current vaccines are not akin to claiming it to be ineffective. Gardasil, despite its short existence, has sustained plenty of attacks from many angles. </p>
<p>It should, however, be known that the fully history (and impact) of the HPV virus remains largerly unwritten. The facts that it cannot be cultured and that its accurate diagnostic remains a work in progress bring many difficulties. </p>
<p>Today’s vaccines represent a valuable line of preliminary and potential defense. However, little is known about the size and force of the enemy.</p>
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<p>I think I explicitly stated that is is not effective for patients who are already infected. I also said that it does not protect against all sub-types, though I thought it was more than 6,11, 10 and 18 which I believe were the ones initially thought to cause cervical cancer.</p>
<p>This is info I got from a Merk rep: “The vaccine offers protection against the four most common strains of HPV; types 6, 11, 16 and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 account for 70% of cervical cancers. HPV types 6 and 11 account for 90% of all cases of genital warts.”</p>
<p>which is consistent with xiggi’s info 
But, the science concerning HPV is evolving.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your thoughts, info and advice. The girls had their first round yesterday.</p>