HPV Vaccine and 11 Year Old Girls – A Mom’s Dilemma

Posted on Oct 19, 2011 by 20 Comments
HPV Vaccine and 11 Year Old Girls – A Mom’s Dilemma

Amid the recent dust up of the controversy of HPV (human papillomavirus) and mandating young girls to receive the vaccine, I’ve been wondering what my reaction will be when I’m faced with this looming decision. My older girl is now a few months from turning 4. Eleven isn’t that far away.

Let me back up and say I’m an advocate of vaccinating our children in general. I think that science has proven to be an effective combatant against many illnesses that have, in the past, been invincible. Until vaccines came along and walloped them. Like polio and pneumonia.

And yet there are risks. Definite risks. In my mind, the risks of not vaccinating my children thus far have out weighed the potential risks that vaccines themselves may carry. I’ve read about, and written about, many of the pros and cons of vaccinating. Remember the hubbub for the last few years over the whole H1N1 vaccine? I waded through many an argument for and against and ultimately got myself and my girls vaccinated.

But to me, vaccinating against HPV is different. Somehow, in my own mind and in the minds of many other parents, putting ‘vaccine for cervical cancer’, ‘sexually active’ and ’11 year old girls’ in the same sentence makes me squeamish. Yes, it is a miracle of science to have a vaccine – any vaccine – against cancer. Haven’t we all been hoping for this? And while vaccinating against a sexually transmitted disease before a young person becomes sexually active seems right on paper…is it in reality? It’s a hard pill to swallow.

First off, let me just say that MY kid won’t have sex until she’s good and married to Mr. Right, and even then I don’t want to know about her having sex.

As a mom, I want to protect her from any and all harm. Of course I do. That’s why we moms have such grey hair – it’s all that worry about protecting our children.

Also, I’m not a Puritan. Yes I get weirded out about my girls being sexually active in their lifetime, but seriously, I’m only joking. Sexual pleasure is lovely. It’s indescribable. I’m hoping that, when my time comes to have the birds and the bees talk, I’ll impart wisdom. I’ll inspire my girls to ALWAYS keep their bodies safe. Use their heads. Make good decisions.

But I’m not so naive to think that I can talk my girls away from sexually transmitted diseases. Bad things happen to good people all the time. Is it my responsibility as a mom to not only talk the talk but walk the walk? If I tell them to keep their bodies safe and this vaccine keeps their bodies safe, then why would I choose not to?

And therein lies my personal dilemma. I don’t know, on balance, what risks weigh heavier on the scale: STD + cervical cancer or complications from the vaccine? Deciding for my daughters versus my daughters deciding for themselves?

I certainly know that I’m no fan of having a mandate from the government, where this debate is currently swirling. But that aside, I think as a mom of a soon (too soon!) to be teenager, I need to get comfortable understanding this decision, the pros and cons and ultimately the risks.

If you have girls do you plan on having them vaccinated against HPV?

photo credit: Dawn Huczek

Posted in: Health
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Kate

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Comments

  • Shani

    The advantages of the vaccine far outweigh the risks.

    As parents, we make decisions for our children every single day. We made the decision to have them in the first place, and it’s our responsibility to continue to make them until they are old enough to make their own. In the case of the HPV vaccine, that might be too late.

  • http://www.rickdoesntlivehere.blogspot.com Lane C.

    I would say yes. I have a two year old daughter and I believe that while she will make healthy decision about her body in regards to sexually activity. It is not a given that her said partner will not have been as careful. It is said that 1:4 people in the adult population carry the HPV virus so the chances are high that a partner might pass it on, even if they are married. I think what makes me mad is why is the vaccine developed just for girls…but alas that is a different question all in it self.

  • Julie C.

    What are the risks? I’ve been following this recent wave of media support, but not too closely. If it’s a new vaccine that’s proven to help, what are the cons? A parent always to make the choice for their child, and it can be difficult. Ultimately I hope all make the choice that is in the best interest of the child. Hopefully the government or FDA or whomever is sponsoring this vaccine has an altruistic intention and it’s not just Big Pharma Marketing.

  • http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com Adventures In Babywearing

    No way. I’ve personally seen someone damaged by the vaccine and will refuse it for my daughter.

    Steph

  • http://www.alas3lads.blogspot.com Kari

    My daughter is now 15 and she had the HPV vaccine series a few years ago. She did not experience any side effects or adverse reactions to the shots at all.

    I agree that the advantages of the vaccine far outweigh the risks. While I would never want to see it mandated, I’m glad that the option is available and I’m happy with my decision to vaccinate my daughter.

  • Michael Gardner

    I am a 29 year old male and a virgin. (And I hope that any children I have eventually will be equally sensible). When and if I have children of my own I hope that I can get this for ALL my children not just my daughters.

    I also hope that when that time comes even more forms of HPV are protected against, not just the std and cancer causing variations.

  • http://www.annaculpwriting.blogspot.com Anna Kitchens-Culp

    I have to laugh at your sarcastic “My daughter won’t have sex until she’s good and married” because I really do think that most likely, my daughter won’t. Virginity until marriage is very common in my religion. My husband and I both “waited”. That being said, I will still educate my daughter about safe sex and sexual health. And if she does not become sexually active until she is married, there’s not a guarantee that her husband will be STD/STI-free, necessarily. I think I will present the information to her, and let her make the decision about whether to be vaccinated or not when she is mature enough and already making choices about her body and has an understanding of sex (13? 16?).

  • Kate

    @Michael You GO! Glad to hear about your choices and, oddly enough, I just saw on the new yesterday, I think, that there is some buzz about a male version. Interesting, no?

  • Kate

    @Anna, thanks for posting. When you think about it as an adult person, putting an age – like 13 or 16 – as an appropriate age to make sexual choices boggles the mind. I mean, I cannot think of my girls being ready for this. But some time, in their lifetime, they will have sex so they will have to know information in order to make good decisions. Unless of course the become nuns and even then celibacy isn’t a given is it? I can’t believe I was sarcastic about staying a virgin until marriage because I really do think that making that commitment to abstain is fantastic. To be celebrated. Unfortunately only a minority of people make that decision so I’m really happy to hear about your experience. Thanks!

  • Alyssa

    In regards to Lane C., I would have to agree with you!
    And in response to others, you can teach your children about abstinence and pray and hope for the best, but ultimately they will make a decision for themselves regarding their sexuality. Also, an unfortunate misconception is that getting your child vaccinated for HPV is sending the wrong idea or will encourage them to have sex. I would have to disagree. This vaccine is protecting your child for whenever they do become sexually active, whether that is at age 14, 17, 28 or 36! But remember that it’s highly unlikely that you will guarantee or control the age of your child’s sexual activity and protecting them for any circumstance is desirable. And in regards to consulting your children, you don’t wait until your child is older to ask them how they feel about getting a polio or measles, mumps and rubella vaccine– you just protect them. And in regards to Jane C.’s concern about HPV vaccine for boys– I have been working with my local county health department and they have been recommending this vaccine for boys as well!! Which is good news, as it can prevent against genital warts in males, as well as certain cancers, and prevent transmission between males and their partners. Thanks for the discussion!

  • Elly Hood

    I will NOT be giving my daughter this vaccine. There are over 150 different types of HPV and only 15 are known to cause cervical cancer. So, your chances of getting the type of HPV are pretty low. (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV) According to the CDC, there are quite a few side effects from this vaccine (including total muscle degeneration). It’s rare, but it HAS happened because of this vaccine. Definitely not worth the risk! http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm http://www.naturalnews.com/026463_vaccine_ALS_girls.html

  • cgm

    As a 29 year old female who had HPV, I wish the vaccine had been around earlier in my life (also wish I had made some better decisions, but that’s a different topic). Ironically, it became available about a month after I was diagnosed. I know the vaccine only protects against certain strains of HPV, but it protects against the most common ones, and even though I had been diagnosed, I still got it to protect me in the future. As a side note – my reaction to the vaccine: Sore arm for 1 day, cold-like symptoms for 3 days.

    When I have children, whether male or female, they will get the vaccine. If I can do something to lower their risk of getting HPV or being a carrier, then I will do that. Protecting them from the common strains, and reducing the spread of HPV (and having it go away like polio) is important. Little by little if we can knock out a virus here and there we’ll make a difference. Makes me think of one of my favorite quotes:

    “Do not take lightly small good deeds believing they can hardly help, for drops of water one by one, in time will fill a giant pot” ~Patrul Rinpoche (?)

    Every vaccine carries with it some type of risk, as does everything in life that we do. It’s especially difficult when it is something new – like the HPV vaccine – is being considered. Do we know every possible side effect? How effective is it? Does it last for a lifetime or do we need boosters in X-number of years? If you have ethical objections to how the drug was created – was it tested on animals (Yes…)? And so on, and so on.

    Consider though, all the things that we do that are considered normal everyday things that carry an even greater risk than vaccines: Driving/Riding in a car (death/disability from an accident), Eating food (death/disability from Salmonella, Botulism, and other diseases, Allergies from unknown or undeclared allergens, etc.), Natural disasters, Home accidents (Yard work, work with power tools, etc). There are so many things that we do where we don’t consider and just easily accept (or don’t recognize) the risks associated with them.

    Perspective is everything.

    Sorry for the ramble, but this is something that hits very close to home with me. Good luck with your decision! Just remember to weigh the good and the bad, make your decision, and confidently stick with it. The nice thing about vaccines is that you can wait, especially since your girl is just turning 4. Who knows, in 6-7 years there may be a new vaccine with new risks to consider. If there isn’t, there will definitely be more information available about the current vaccine by then!

  • Kate

    @cgm Thanks so much for your reply. You’re right, perspective is everything. I really appreciate your opinion on this.

  • Nadah Valadanzouj

    I am only 20 years old, and I never got the vaccine. I now have HPV, but I have no idea when I contracted it. I was sexually abused as a child, and could have gotten it then. Regardless, I have one of the strains of HPV that causes cervical cancer, and they’ve already seen precancerous cervical changes. I found out that I have HPV when I was pregnant with my son Emrys. Obviously research shows that HPV is genetic to some extent since women can only get it from men, and since women are not born with it, it stands to reason that BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS SHOULD GET THE VACCINES, WHETHER GARDASIL OR THE OTHER ONE! As far as Elly Hood is concerned, you obviously don’t have HPV, so you have no idea how dangerous it can be. There are more than 15 types of HPV that can cause cancer, and more about half of the women with HPV have the cancer-causing type. If you would rather risk your daughter’s life with cancer, then that’s on YOU. If she decides to get it, the let her because she’s smart enough to make her own decisions. But don’t you DARE mislead her about how helpful such a vaccine can be!

  • http://invitation2islaam.wordpress.com/ Anonymous

    Though this is about HPV, I would like to add a few words about abstinence. I do feel it is a great thing but because of our society we feel helpless. Teaching our children, as well as ourselves, about true self respect and confidence can definitely help them overcome what we may feel is impossible. It all comes down to the fact that we are held accountable for what we do in our lives. And there is always a benefit for whatever we do that is done sincerely & accordingly for our Creator.
    We all want good for our kids, but there is much more good than we allow our selves to accomplish. Take Care

  • amom2girls

    I think a few things are often looked over in the HPV, Gardasil debate. As a women’s health care provider, I see the effects and costs of HPV daily in women’s lives.
    While it is hard to separate sexual activity from the whole debate, it really becomes irrelevant when you consider the following:
    -Many, many girls (and boys) are sexually abused, and can contract HPV from this type of sexual contact.
    -Many females are the victims of sexual assault. Current statistics are that 1 out of every four girls or women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime!
    -Many “good” girls and boys who intend to save themselves for marriage, have other types of intimate contact (not just intercourse) and contract HPV. Not to mention the one-time slip-ups, etc.
    -HPV is very common, and it’s presence does cause complications/stress/costs and painful procedures….and that’s all prior to a diagnosis of cervical cancer. While cervical cancer may be fairly uncommon, the pre-cancerous states and all the interventions/costs that come with it are pretty common.
    -If HPV were eradicated from the earth (much like polio), there would be almost no need for pap smears. Which mother would not want to help their daughter avoid that annoying test?

  • Sheralyn

    I personally feel that we need to teach our children about abstinence. I think it’s important to teach them to wait until marriage. But regardless, I will make sure to discuss all the important matters with my daughter when she gets to that age. But I will NOT ever have her get the vaccine. I would encourage all moms to read about the deaths the HPV vaccine has caused and the risks. Read about true stories of young girls that received the vaccine at: http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/cassie.aspx

  • Amanda

    I am 100% for the hpv vaccines and was disappointed that it wasnt approved until I was already too old for it. My mother died of cervical cancer and I have hpv (more than one strain for that matter)
    I’ve already vaccinated my oldest daughter and plan on vaccinating my youngest too! My daughter had a sore arm and that was all! If I can talk my sons pediatrician into it I’ll have him vaccinated too!

  • kate

    @Amanda. Thanks for sharing. My condolences for your mom…I can see why you are such an avid supporter!

  • Mary

    First, let me tell you I have 5 daughters. When my oldest was 14, her pediatrician gave her the first dose of the HPV vaccine and told me to come back in 3 mos to get the second. I did some more research and decided against it. At her next dr appointment, even though I specifically said no to the vaccine, the dr gave her the second dose (she had other shots to get, so dr slipped it in). This time, my daughter had side effects! She had 3 periods every month for 4 months! My daughter’s cycles had been normal UNTIL AFTER the second dose of the HPV vaccine. Needless to say, I changed pediatricians, reported the old one, and will NOT allow ANY of my other children to get this vaccine. It’s not worth my children’s health to vaccinate them against a disease they have a small chance of getting with the proper upbringing and education!