A good response to more idiocy about HPV

[kitchen_kink]

lightcastle pointed to this Slate article recently, titled "Does the HPV Vaccine "promote" promiscuity?" The title is typically sensational, but the article itself is quite good. Still, it angers me that such an article should even have to be written.

If you can, ladies, go get vaccinated!

Comments

[catya.livejournal.com]

grumble grumble stupid age limits grumble grumble

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you.

It is crazy talk that a doctors visit will give a young girl a feeling that she should run out and go start having sex. Much of the "traditional American" thinking is very sad.

[roy-batty.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I got the HPV Vaccine, and I *have* been more sexually active since . . .

. . . something tells me it's not directly causal, though.

[entrope.livejournal.com]

I had a discussion about the HPV vaccine with my uncle's girlfriend and a non-vaxing friend of hers. They were frothing at the mouth at the paternalism of mandatory vaccinations and the certainty they felt that vaccines cause or lead to autism. They were having a grand time postulating about what kind of sheeplike assholes would allow their precious daughters to receive this pharmaceutical-company-enriching poison. Probably Bush-supporters who drive SUVs in Manhattan, they decided.

When they paused to take a breath, I mentioned that s. had been vaccinated at my strongly-worded request and they asked why. I said, "well, because I have HPV and it has not been an easy road. It pains me to turn down an opportunity to prevent that with my own child."

They took me to task for "childishly believing" that my experience with HPV was at all related to an "untested vaccine that causes more harm than good."

At least they didn't tell me it would make her promiscuous.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Wow, that makes as much sense as prohibiting the use of seat belts on the grounds that people will drive more carefully without them.

The mind, she boggles.

[lobolance.livejournal.com]

according to Dan Savage, young guys should get vaccinated too! though the medical testing hasn't been officially done yet. HPV also causes warts around the anus, which also leads to cancer. Interesting how that hasn't been discussed at all.

[poly-fi.livejournal.com]

I like the point that the article makes about Hep. B. D'oh!

[poly-fi.livejournal.com]

So inspired by your PSA, I called my doctor about getting the immunization. Since I'm *so* old, I'll need to be tested first and pay for it myself, but I figured that it's likely worth it. Thanks!

[perseph12.livejournal.com]

When I told my primary care physician that I had received the vaccine, he asked, "And did you find it made you more promiscuous?" The look of horror on my face must have been incredible because he immediately assured me that he was making a funny ;). Even a sexually liberated woman can be that dense!

My gyno did not present the vaccine as an option. I receive my third shot next week, and I am thankful for her being so pushy!

Keep on spreading the gospel.