I was just reading that a new vaccine against cervical cancer will be available in about 3 weeks. It protects against 70% of the sexually transmitted viruses that cause cervical cancer.

They are thinking of advising it for girls at about 13 - before they experience sex.

It was quite interesting. While I think it is great, I wonder how many parents would have their daughter vaccinated.

I think it's most important to teach abstinence. It feels like a permission slip to have sex.

I'm not naive, really I'm not, but I think parents could do so much better at raising their children, let's raise kids who want to wait for M to have sex.

Then we can plant a money tree in the backyard, I know. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I really want to encourage my boys to wait. I really want to raise them with the ability to make wise, right choices like that.

I think the vaccine is wonderful, but 13 year olds. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

KY

I agree with you, somewhat.

But I posted to a woman here that was dying of cervical cancer. Her husband was having an affair, and I used to wonder if he had had others, and that was how she was exposed. I think she probably died, because I used to call her, and last time I did, her number was disconnected.

So I'm of two minds. You have to remember that often women are exposed by their husbands.

At 13, that's what got me. I know girls are having sex at that age, but instead of the parents advising this vaccine, how about they first advise their child to wait.

Perfect world theory, I guess.

It just kills me that parents fail their children in this area.

So what if the girl waits, gets married, and her husband cheats, and gives her the virus?

I think it's a great breakthrough in medicine. Cervical cancer kills many women each year and if there is a vaccine that can help prevent that then I am all for it.

Just because a girl/woman gets the vaccine does not mean they are going to be sexually active nor do I think it gives them permission to have sex.

Why not teach both as a parent? Teach our girls that sex is for marriage and not to be taken lightly, but explain that the vaccine is to help prevent a virus that causes cervical cancer.

My grandmother died of cervical cancer before I was even born. I am all for any vaccine that can reduce the risk of any cancer.

I think its outstanding. I just had a hysterectomy for cervical cancer, and tested positive for HPV, I'm 38 years old. After researching HPV at that point, I found out that 75% of women will have it in their 50's, and most all will have it by old age. I agree with teaching that sex is special but who can look at a man and see that he has the virus? You can't look at me and see that I have it! Let's not hide in a closet and pretend that just because we teach abstinence it is actually going to happen...no offense. It's outstanding!!

Yes, KY...perfectly unrealsitic.... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think the vaccine is a great thing. Abstinence should ofcours ebe preached...but realistically....teens are more influenced by peers than parents (depsite the best of intentions). When I was in private Catholic high school, parents had a health ed teacher fired after he discussed condoms and their imprortance in disease prevention. The parents thought that he was encouraging sex by discussing this. Uhhhh hello....we were all having it anyway.

I get the perfect world theory....but come on now. Better safe than sorry.

Lem

If the vaccine doesn't have any significant risks, how about vaccinating in infancy instead of waiting until 13?

When I moved to where I live now, about 13 years ago, my DSS was in Jr. High School. I joined a committee to determine what kind of AIDS education would be taught in the school because it was now mandated by the state. Except for me and the principal, the rest of the committee wanted to teach abstinence only. When I asked what about the kids that weren't abstinent, I was actually told they didn't care about them and no one objected!

Funny thing, my DSS, who was his father's son in too many ways, admitted he'd had sex with the daughter of one of the most vehemently anti-sex ed fathers. Of course we'd all like our kids to choose abstinence as we'd all have liked our spouses to choose fidelity. But why risk our own health and the health of our children?

Even the young woman the rest of the committee chose as the only speaker they wanted to talk to the kids proved my point. She was married and about 8 1/2 months pregnant. She spoke about how she'd chosen "secondary virginity" after an initial period of promiscuity. While I applauded her choice, in terms of HIV or HPV, it could've been way too late.

I don't understand the "either/or" mentality. As LM said, "better safe than sorry".

Duh, it's my perfect world and that wouldn't happen. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I like the idea of giving it as a child. I'm not saying I don't agree with the vaccine, but I feel the delivery is important.

The earlier the better. Even if our daughters chose not to have sex that young, that choice could be taken away from them.

I work in public health and have done a lot of work on cervical cancer awareness. HPV is so common these days that it's estimated that most people who have been sexually active carry it. That's not to say that every strain of HPV causes cancer, but some of them do.

And just b/c a young woman waits to have sex, and only has it with one guy, doesn't mean she can't catch it. He could have been with someone who has it, even years ago!

Just knowing there's a vaccine out there can PREVENT a very painful and damaging cancer, that has been proven successful with little if any side effects in trials, is very encouraging.

The thing about cervical cancer, at least in what I've learned through my work, is that it is often undetected until late in the game. And it is very, very painful. We're seeing more young women in their 20s and 30s with it, who have to get hysterectomies and cannot have children. I agree with Dobie... the earlier the better!

And as a public health official, may I remind all the ladies on this board to get regular pap tests!

but I feel the delivery is important.





With this delivery, I would allow my 13 year old to receive the shot. I just hope that they all receive this kind of description. Well done.

Now, If only I had a daughter. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I have a son, and will do my part to teach him to respect himself and others, but that doesn't mean that other's will be doing the same. If there was a vaccine available to prevent HIV/AIDS, wouldn't you administer it to your children. Would you solely rely on your faith in your children to practice what you preach? Will you deny the outside sources of pressure to do things that we are on the fence about. I have always been one to take care of myself; when I knew that I was thinking of becoming sexually active (age 17) I took the initiative to get birth control and barrier methods of contraseption. We may marry before sex, but that doesn't protect you from all of the people they may have been with and all the people those people may have been with, and so on and so on. It's nice to believe that our children will protect themselves because we asked them to, and they may; but what happens to those that are taken against their will. All facets of the subject need to be addressed.

I'd consider it parental neglect NOT to provide a daughter with this protection.

To those arguing against it, I'd recommend they also not provide their children with driver education - because they'll just learn to drive too fast.

Since the topic has been breached, I'll mention an article recently published in the Washington Post, Is Teen Sex Bad?, that reveals some remarkable differences between U.S. and Northern European sexual attitudes. Pretty powerful stuff.

Bottom line, it appears that US attitudes toward teen sex are unwittingly counterproductive. The outcome? Levels of teen sexual activity look remarkably similar in the U.S. and abroad, but U.S. rates of teen pregnancy, childbirth, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases are among the highest of all industrialized nations, despite recent decreases. And this is an understatement.

JMHO

WAT

I have been. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So far - nothing. But that doesn't mean it won't.

(sigh) Yet another reminder of his affair. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

temp, great post to me, for me. I really need to get out of my box more.

I was pretty innoncent when I married, my H had multiple partners, I was 30 something on his list of woman. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I feel such a responsibility to my boys to teach them, sex is not love. Their father had/has a sexual addiction, it is something that is very important to me.

My SIL has cervical cancer, she has 3 girls. I know my SIL, she will take her 3 girls to get this vaccine but will not address abstenance AT ALL, this will be a preventative for when they have sex, at whatever age they first get approached to have sex.

Maybe these are seperate issues, and I should address them as such.

I love the vaccine idea. I have many daycare girls, I would recommend to all their mothers for them to receive it.

KY

I'm not against it DAMN IT!! If you weren't talking to me Wat, take out the damn it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

and I'm really hoping the age for drivering goes up to age 18 before my boys hit 16. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Maybe you guys should just come visit my perfect world of irrational and naive thinking. I'm sure my therapist and I could make room.

Sheese, jelly, you paranoid? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sadly, some parents will be against it. We all know what else they'll have in common.

I'm gonna shut up now because if I continue you know who will say you know what about who's going where. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

WAT

I know exactly who will say what about whom going there.

Paraniod, no I'm not, why do you think I am, I wonder who else thinks that, maybe I should ask the people following me if they think that.