<p>Yea, HMOs are into prevention, but decide WHICH prevention they are interested in covering. Have been told they are now having to offer this because of the Insurance Reform Act.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the vaccine is still recommended for a 20 year old young man who HAS already been sexually active?</p>
<p>I just called my insurance company and the vaccine is not covered under our policy for males.</p>
<p>My wife is an oncologist, and our S and D have both had the vaccine.</p>
<p>Our insurance doesn’t cover it, but honestly, to reduce the chance of head and neck cancer, to me this was even a discussion point. My son got it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, you need to get the vaccine (all three doses) before, so to speak, the horse is out of the barn. To mix metaphors, if someone is already out swimming in the pool the exposure may already have happened.</p>
<p>OK, I googled around and here’s what it said about young people who have already been sexually active. They should go ahead and get the shots because they may not have been exposed to all the types of HPV that the vaccine covers.</p>
<p>Same message from a different perspective here on your son getting the HPV shots even if he is sexually active. I am a mom way over the age of 20, and my doc recommends the HPV series even for us oldsters who are married! </p>
<p>Of course the HPV shots won’t protect your son from something he has already been infected with, but there are tests for that if you are concerned, and it <em>will</em> protect him from the covered strains that he has not yet been exposed to.</p>
<p>P.S. I just read something that now research suggests that there is yet another reason for males to get the HPV series…it may protect against cancer of his, uh, member. I forgot where I saw this but it could be googled I am sure. I think that would have all the boys lining up for this shot - LOL.</p>
<p>Here’s info DISCOURAGING HPV shots for folks over 26 who probably have been exposed to HPV and also would have to pay for each of the 3 shots out-of-pocket at a total cover of > $600</p>
<p>[HPV</a> Jab - Older Women & The HPV Vaccine](<a href=“http://std.about.com/od/hpv/f/hpvjabolder.htm]HPV”>Are You Ever Too Old to Get the HPV Vaccine?)</p>
<p>Fair enough, HImom. As the article concludes, each adult each must choose which risks they wish to assume (and what they pay for). And listen to a doctor they trust.</p>
<p>Has it been ascertained 100% that the HPV vaccine is safe? Just asking…</p>
<p>My son got his. Both he and D should be getting boosters during Christmas vacay…It hurts a LOT. I don’t know how they convince guys to do it, once they understand .</p>
<p>Have rarely heard of anything that is 100% safe but haven’t heard anything BAD (other than below, that it hurts). Am going to urge S to get it.</p>
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<p>Yowzers! Are you saying this shot is not administered in the upper arm or the hip, but in a more, erm…intimate location?</p>
<p>Believe my D’s was administered in the arm. </p>
<p>Where on the body is the hpv vaccine administered
Where on the body is the DPT vaccine administered? The DPT vaccine is injected into the muscle of body generally in arms.</p>
<p>“Has it been ascertained 100% that the HPV vaccine is safe? Just asking…”</p>
<p>poetsheart, nothing is 100% safe, however, I guarantee that the vaccine is much, much safer than the virus it protects from. Clinical trials information is always a good place to start looking for safety information:</p>
<p>[New</a> Data from HPV Vaccine Trials Available - National Cancer Institute](<a href=“http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2007/hpv-vaccine0507]New”>http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2007/hpv-vaccine0507)</p>
<p>Yes, it’s in the upper arm. I’ve read that it can also be the upper thigh, though I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting it anywhere but the arm. There is another thread that discusses whether the shot is painful or not. For some, it is, and others felt it was no different than any other shot. I’ve heard that taking an over-the-counter painkiller beforehand helps a lot with any shot, if you are really worried. In my experience, the shot didn’t seem more painful, although the nurse said it might, and I had no difficulties afterward (no soreness or any other reaction).</p>
<p>Yes! It’s in the arm! Son compared it to a “deadarm” sports injury. H ( family practice), did not seem surprised. He has also heard it is among the more painful " shots". Glad to hear not always. Makes it hard to finish the series. For guys, the preventative reasons must be a hard sell.</p>
<p>Painful reputation
<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22492557/ns/health-childrens_health/t/some-girls-fainting-after-receiving-hpv-vaccine/[/url]”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22492557/ns/health-childrens_health/t/some-girls-fainting-after-receiving-hpv-vaccine/</a></p>
<p>Not as painful as some think…
<a href=“http://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/news/20091023/hpv-vaccine-not-as-painful-as-some-think[/url]”>Cervical Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Outlook;
<p>My son didn’t seem to think it was that bad. Of course he’s the one who got rabies shots for Jordan and other fun stuff.</p>
<p>My kids said it was more painful that some other shots, but not significantly so.</p>