6 ms·

Hmm I was also told that I didn't need to bother getting this done b/c I'm in my mid-30s. But I haven't been that sexually active in my life :( so I know the s

Hmm I was also told that I didn't need to bother getting this done b/c I'm in my mid-30s. But I haven't been that sexually active in my life :( so I know the stat about most ppl having some form of HPV but it may not apply to me. Do you have to get it earlier in life?

toomuchtodo 7y ago
Ideally, you get the vaccine before you're sexually active, as it won't inoculate you against strains of the virus you have already been infected with [1]. I recommend it to everyone who will listen. Cheap risk mitigation (comparatively speaking). Australia made it compulsory, and they will have eliminated cervical cancer in a few decades because of it [2] (and my hunch is that gene therapy will pick up the remainder until then [3]). It's literally a vaccine that prevents cancer [4]. Who says no to that? [1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_the_way_doctor_should_i_get_the_hpv_vaccine_if_im_already_infected https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_th... (Harvard Women's Health Watch | By the way, doctor: Should I get the HPV vaccine if I'm already infected?) [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/world/australia/cervical-cancer-hpv-vaccine.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/world/australia/cervical-... (In Australia, Cervical Cancer Could Soon Be Eliminated) [3] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-09/cervical-cancer-cure-research-gene-technology-qld/11583158 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-09/cervical-cancer-cure-... (Cervical cancer 'cure' closer with gene-editing breakthrough, scientists say) [4] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0822-cancer-prevented-vaccine.html https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0822-cancer-prevent... (An Estimated 92% of Cancers Caused by HPV Could be Prevented by Vaccine)
- masonic 7y ago
  they will have eliminated cervical cancer in a few decades False. Not all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667%2818%2930183-X/fulltext#%20 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2... "In 2007, Australia was one of the first countries to introduce a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, and it has since achieved high vaccination coverage across both sexes. In December, 2017, organised cervical screening in Australia transitioned from cytology-based screening every 2 years for women aged from 18–20 years to 69 years, to primary HPV testing every 5 years for women aged 25–69 years and exit testing for women aged 70–74 years. We aimed to identify the earliest years in which the annual age-standardised incidence of cervical cancer in Australia (which is currently seven cases per 100 000 women) could decrease below two annual thresholds that could be considered to be potential elimination thresholds: a rare cancer threshold (six new cases per 100 000 women) or a lower threshold (four new cases per 100 000 women), since Australia is likely to be one of the first countries to reach these benchmarks."
technofiend 7y ago
I'd still get it no matter how late in life. For instance warts on your feet can also be caused by HPV. There are a ton of strains of HPV so perhaps the vaccine wouldn't protect you but with insurance coverage and no (AFAIK) downside why not get it?
- refurb 7y ago
  There are hundreds of strains and Gardasil protects against 3 (last time I checked). Namely the ones associated with cervical cancer. Correction: Gardasil 9 covers 9. Prior version withdrawn.
  - technofiend 7y ago
    True enough, but it covers some of the most important ones. So it's better than nothing. Copying my other post: ... three vaccines prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause about 70% of cervical cancers and an even higher percentage of some of the other HPV-caused cancers (1, 2). Gardasil also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts (3). Gardasil 9 prevents infection with the same four HPV types plus five additional cancer-causing types (31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) that together account for 10 to 20% of cervical cancers.
  - mattkrause 7y ago
    It targets 9. There's some evidence for "off-target" effects on other strains too.
    - masonic 7y ago
      "off-target" effects on other strains too Source, please? That seems really unlikely given that these are genetic vectors and do not rely on stimulating the immune system (which also means fewer side effects).
      - mattkrause 7y ago
        Wild, right? I'll try to dig up the ref when I have a moment. The WHO report, linked above, mentions that the bivalent vaccines also have limited effects on other strains, but they're mostly covered by the newer 4/9-valent ones. I'm pretty certain I saw another report suggesting it can hit other strains too, though again, not very effectively. This was the rationale for some of the ancedotes about people's warts disappearing and all that.

toomuchtodo 7y ago

Ideally, you get the vaccine before you're sexually active, as it won't inoculate you against strains of the virus you have already been infected with [1]. I recommend it to everyone who will listen. Cheap risk mitigation (comparatively speaking). Australia made it compulsory, and they will have eliminated cervical cancer in a few decades because of it [2] (and my hunch is that gene therapy will pick up the remainder until then [3]). It's literally a vaccine that prevents cancer [4]. Who says no to that? [1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_the_way_doctor_should_i_get_the_hpv_vaccine_if_im_already_infected https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_th... (Harvard Women's Health Watch | By the way, doctor: Should I get the HPV vaccine if I'm already infected?) [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/world/australia/cervical-cancer-hpv-vaccine.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/world/australia/cervical-... (In Australia, Cervical Cancer Could Soon Be Eliminated) [3] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-09/cervical-cancer-cure-research-gene-technology-qld/11583158 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-09/cervical-cancer-cure-... (Cervical cancer 'cure' closer with gene-editing breakthrough, scientists say) [4] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0822-cancer-prevented-vaccine.html https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0822-cancer-prevent... (An Estimated 92% of Cancers Caused by HPV Could be Prevented by Vaccine)

masonic 7y ago
they will have eliminated cervical cancer in a few decades False. Not all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667%2818%2930183-X/fulltext#%20 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2... "In 2007, Australia was one of the first countries to introduce a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, and it has since achieved high vaccination coverage across both sexes. In December, 2017, organised cervical screening in Australia transitioned from cytology-based screening every 2 years for women aged from 18–20 years to 69 years, to primary HPV testing every 5 years for women aged 25–69 years and exit testing for women aged 70–74 years. We aimed to identify the earliest years in which the annual age-standardised incidence of cervical cancer in Australia (which is currently seven cases per 100 000 women) could decrease below two annual thresholds that could be considered to be potential elimination thresholds: a rare cancer threshold (six new cases per 100 000 women) or a lower threshold (four new cases per 100 000 women), since Australia is likely to be one of the first countries to reach these benchmarks."

technofiend 7y ago

I'd still get it no matter how late in life. For instance warts on your feet can also be caused by HPV. There are a ton of strains of HPV so perhaps the vaccine wouldn't protect you but with insurance coverage and no (AFAIK) downside why not get it?

refurb 7y ago
There are hundreds of strains and Gardasil protects against 3 (last time I checked). Namely the ones associated with cervical cancer. Correction: Gardasil 9 covers 9. Prior version withdrawn.
- technofiend 7y ago
  True enough, but it covers some of the most important ones. So it's better than nothing. Copying my other post: ... three vaccines prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause about 70% of cervical cancers and an even higher percentage of some of the other HPV-caused cancers (1, 2). Gardasil also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts (3). Gardasil 9 prevents infection with the same four HPV types plus five additional cancer-causing types (31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) that together account for 10 to 20% of cervical cancers.
- mattkrause 7y ago
  It targets 9. There's some evidence for "off-target" effects on other strains too.
  - masonic 7y ago
    "off-target" effects on other strains too Source, please? That seems really unlikely given that these are genetic vectors and do not rely on stimulating the immune system (which also means fewer side effects).
    - mattkrause 7y ago
      Wild, right? I'll try to dig up the ref when I have a moment. The WHO report, linked above, mentions that the bivalent vaccines also have limited effects on other strains, but they're mostly covered by the newer 4/9-valent ones. I'm pretty certain I saw another report suggesting it can hit other strains too, though again, not very effectively. This was the rationale for some of the ancedotes about people's warts disappearing and all that.