BRCA Moms - HPV vaccine for your girls?

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PattySprout
PattySprout Member Posts: 36
edited June 2014 in Genetic Testing

There was a spot on NPR this morning about the HPV vaccine for 11 year old girls.  I don't really know much about the vaccine because I haven't researched it at all, as my daughter just turned 4 over the weekend. 

I am just wondering how other BRCA women feel about this vaccine for their daughters.  I am very hesitant to give my daughter anything that isn't long term tested, especially with the chance of her being BRCA1+. 

 Thoughts?

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  • Granuaile
    Granuaile Member Posts: 113
    edited September 2011

    My NP friend advises against this vaccine - hasn't been around long enough. Too many unknowns, too many side effects reported. She wouldn't give it to her 12 year old. I feel the same way about my 17 year old.  

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  • veryworriedmomof2
    veryworriedmomof2 Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2012

    Isn't this vaccine for cervix cancer which is cause by a virus so it's ok??? Good question- I would love to know too...

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  • slinky
    slinky Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2012

    My understanding is the vaccine is to prevent cervical cancer caused by a virus during intimate contact.  The doctor also mentioned that if the boy/partner gets the vaccine, the girl is protected.  I chose not to vaccinate my daughter.  She is not sexually active and I don't want her pumped up with drugs at such a young age.

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  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 1,261
    edited January 2012

    Hope you don't mind if I jump in on this...

    The pediatrician was really pushing this vaccine for my 15 year old twin girls.  I was not comfortable with the amount of information she had given me.  I finally asked her if she would give it to her own daughter?  Her answer, "Well, I don't have a daughter so that is a moot point."

    I agree with you slinky...

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  • redwolf8812
    redwolf8812 Member Posts: 2,463
    edited January 2012

    No way. Even my ob/gyn advised against it. He said there's just not enough info and we should be advising our kids to AVOID sex at such young ages. But he did say if they are sexually active and we make sure they get regular check-ups any problems would be detected early enough to save their lives.

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited January 2012

    Most certainly not.  There is now a class action lawsuit being brought by several teens against the maker Merck for harm (irreparable nerve damage) caused by this vaccine.

    Nowhere near enough known for long term effects.

    This vaccine does not even protect against all STDs.  Maybe your daughter would not get cervical warts or that particular strain, but she can still acquire all the others.

    Not enough benefit, not enough research and known harm.

    Why?

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  • learnin
    learnin Member Posts: 205
    edited January 2012

    Ok - my 2 cents worth - we all say we want to prevent cancer, not just catch it early. And this is the first time (that I know of) that we have a vaccine that helps prevent one type of cancer. Isn't that what we want?



    Of course we don't want our daughters to be sexually active as young teens. But the point is to vaccinate them BEFORE exposure to HPV. And at some time in their life we do expect them to find a partner ... And HPV is really common. Way more common than alot of other diseases we vaccinate against.

    Enjoy your day with your kids :)

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