Recent post at Feministe and a project for a class have me doing research on HPV.
I’m listening to the second NPR program in a row about the HPV vaccine and I find it ironic that the people they have on to comment each time have been two male scientists and one female who opposes mandating the vaccine and supports abstinence education.
You think they did this on purpose?
I got the Gardasil shot. My insurance paid for it. It hurt like a bitch, but that went away after a day. I’ve had abnormal Pap results, and I hated the stress of waiting to go back in a month to see if they were still abnormal. It’s scary.
HPV transmission is not always prevented by condoms. The strains that cause cervical cancer do not have symptoms.
This should be an issue.
What I’m trying to find in these radio programs is the story I heard one day of a woman who got HPV from her husband. She was a virgin until she was married. And she has gone through years and years of abnormal paps, cryosurgery, and other problems. She was not promiscuous. She did what she was supposed to do.
Jeez, people. It’s not about promiscuous sex. And even if you are having promiscuous sex, is cancer supposed to be what you deserve? (Don’t answer that.)
I agree! I was furious when I found out that insurance doesn’t cover the HPV shot for people my age. (I’m only 28!) Then two of my friends who are in cancer research told me not to sweat it. They said that there are hundreds of strains of HPV and Guardasil only protects against a handful of them so it is by no means the cure all it is said to be. That made me feel a little better but the fact that I’m still not allowed to protect myself from those small chances is frustrating. I don’t think there is any reason why a 28 year old can’t get the sohrt other than the fact that insurance won’t pay for it.