8 ms·

Cervical cancer is highly preventable. For more information and testing options see Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/womens-health/pa

by jph 10y ago

Cervical cancer is highly preventable. For more information and testing options see Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/womens-health/pap-tests-hpv-tests https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/womens-health/pap-te...

toomuchtodo 10y ago
If you have kids, get them the HPV vaccine as soon as they're eligible.
- woofyman 10y ago
  Or if you're an adult (either sex) and sexually active.
  - toomuchtodo 10y ago
    Yes, definitely. I'm 34, male, and paid the $500 out of pocket for myself.
    - godmodus 10y ago
      Does it do anything against Amy hpv strain you have? Or does it curb future infections of strains one doesn't have?
      - Fomite 10y ago
        Keep in mind that HPV is not necessarily a permanent infection. HPV infections are commonly cleared, putting you at risk for reinfection, which the vaccine will help protect against. It will also help protect you from further infections by the covered strains.
      - toomuchtodo 10y ago
        It's less effective against strains you're already infected with, but not entirely ineffective against them. That's why widespread vaccination at an age before sexual maturity is suggested.
  - lobster_johnson 10y ago
    For men, the vaccine is only approved for adults up to the age of 26. My primary physician claimed it's assumed that anyone above that age already has one or more strains of HPV. I don't know if you can pay for it out of pocket if you're too old. I'd assume you would also want to be tested first, instead of just randomly getting vaccines, but apparently there's no HPV test for men; the approved tests are all for women.
    - woofyman 10y ago
      From the CDC >However, some healthcare providers do offer anal Pap tests to men who may be at increased risk for anal cancer, including men with HIV or men who receive anal sex. >I don't know if you can pay for it out of pocket if you're too old. Yes you absolutely can. You can also get the shingles vaccine even if you're too young.
    - elastic_church 10y ago
      I paid for it when I was 26. A bit over $600 for the shots, and paid my doctor's copay each visit. I thought it was one of my better uses of excess income that isn't guaranteed in the future.
      - toomuchtodo 10y ago
        I'm an internet stranger proud of your actions. Thanks for doing your part.
feld 10y ago
Planned Parenthood is being eradicated in this country.
- elastic_church 10y ago
  On that subject I wanted to ask: Are the services that Planned Parenthood provide so economically unviable that they require the life support and political will of the US Government? Why can't a competitor or even a Bill Gates philanthropic initiative be a private sector version of the same thing?
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - rabboRubble 10y ago
    Here's a case that proves Planned Parenthood's unique function. PP offers rapid HIV testing. I get a test every year because you catch that shit early, the available treatments give you a nearly normal life. Now this last year, I didn't go to PP for my annual lady check up for reasons that are long and boring. So I asked my primary care physician during the annual everything else check up for a rapid test. She didn't have it and was surprised PP did. So instead of a finger prick I got a blood draw and waited. Weeks later I got a test report for everything else tested for (liver / diabetes / etc.) except the HIV and other STD tests. I ended up having to call to get the results. So compare the 10 minute HIV test with immediate results versus the 8 week odyssey for finding out my sexual health status. Planned Parenthood is brilliant at what they do. They do it well. Primary care physicians are shiat at reproductive health.
    - zadig 10y ago
      Yeah, the advantage of PP is that (1) they are specialized and (2) they have a large patient volume that allows them to negotiate medical products in bulk. That allows them to provide reproductive health care cheaper and more efficiently with just as good if not better patient outcomes than any other service.
    - 10y ago

by jph 10y ago

toomuchtodo 10y ago

If you have kids, get them the HPV vaccine as soon as they're eligible.

woofyman 10y ago
Or if you're an adult (either sex) and sexually active.
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  Yes, definitely. I'm 34, male, and paid the $500 out of pocket for myself.
  - godmodus 10y ago
    Does it do anything against Amy hpv strain you have? Or does it curb future infections of strains one doesn't have?
    - Fomite 10y ago
      Keep in mind that HPV is not necessarily a permanent infection. HPV infections are commonly cleared, putting you at risk for reinfection, which the vaccine will help protect against. It will also help protect you from further infections by the covered strains.
    - toomuchtodo 10y ago
      It's less effective against strains you're already infected with, but not entirely ineffective against them. That's why widespread vaccination at an age before sexual maturity is suggested.
- lobster_johnson 10y ago
  For men, the vaccine is only approved for adults up to the age of 26. My primary physician claimed it's assumed that anyone above that age already has one or more strains of HPV. I don't know if you can pay for it out of pocket if you're too old. I'd assume you would also want to be tested first, instead of just randomly getting vaccines, but apparently there's no HPV test for men; the approved tests are all for women.
  - woofyman 10y ago
    From the CDC >However, some healthcare providers do offer anal Pap tests to men who may be at increased risk for anal cancer, including men with HIV or men who receive anal sex. >I don't know if you can pay for it out of pocket if you're too old. Yes you absolutely can. You can also get the shingles vaccine even if you're too young.
  - elastic_church 10y ago
    I paid for it when I was 26. A bit over $600 for the shots, and paid my doctor's copay each visit. I thought it was one of my better uses of excess income that isn't guaranteed in the future.
    - toomuchtodo 10y ago
      I'm an internet stranger proud of your actions. Thanks for doing your part.

feld 10y ago

Planned Parenthood is being eradicated in this country.

elastic_church 10y ago
On that subject I wanted to ask: Are the services that Planned Parenthood provide so economically unviable that they require the life support and political will of the US Government? Why can't a competitor or even a Bill Gates philanthropic initiative be a private sector version of the same thing?
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- rabboRubble 10y ago
  Here's a case that proves Planned Parenthood's unique function. PP offers rapid HIV testing. I get a test every year because you catch that shit early, the available treatments give you a nearly normal life. Now this last year, I didn't go to PP for my annual lady check up for reasons that are long and boring. So I asked my primary care physician during the annual everything else check up for a rapid test. She didn't have it and was surprised PP did. So instead of a finger prick I got a blood draw and waited. Weeks later I got a test report for everything else tested for (liver / diabetes / etc.) except the HIV and other STD tests. I ended up having to call to get the results. So compare the 10 minute HIV test with immediate results versus the 8 week odyssey for finding out my sexual health status. Planned Parenthood is brilliant at what they do. They do it well. Primary care physicians are shiat at reproductive health.
  - zadig 10y ago
    Yeah, the advantage of PP is that (1) they are specialized and (2) they have a large patient volume that allows them to negotiate medical products in bulk. That allows them to provide reproductive health care cheaper and more efficiently with just as good if not better patient outcomes than any other service.
  - 10y ago