5 ms·

It's not approved for those over 45. (AFIAK, simply because so few people in that age group would have risk without having had prior exposure. Basically only

It's not approved for those over 45. (AFIAK, simply because so few people in that age group would have risk without having had prior exposure. Basically only those who had divorced or lost their long time partner.)

p1necone 1y ago
That feels like a wild assumption to me - we really think people 45+ aren't having casual sex? less casual sex maybe, but I would imagine still a decent amount, statistically.
- finghin 1y ago
  If you’re having casual sex at 45+ you probably already carry HPV.
  - pcthrowaway 1y ago
    Sure, but you probably don't already have all the strains which can cause cancer.
  - p1necone 1y ago
    Yeah that makes much more sense as an explanation than OP.
  - deleted 1y ago
    [deleted]
  - tehjoker 1y ago
    Maybe, but all 9 cancer causing strains covered by the vaccine? HPV also clears on its own usually after some time afaik.
  - phkahler 1y ago
    There are over 30 strains of HPV with just 2 causing the majority of cancers. So sure, most people may have had some strain of it, but that's not really relevant unless immunity is broad across strains.
  - TurboHaskal 1y ago
    Or, you could have been suddenly cheated on and exposed, or divorced and recently entered the dating market, or thinking about opening up your relationship after decades of monogamy.
    - LorenPechtel 1y ago
      But the number of such people is low, it would not be easy to find candidates for the trial. Just because there are some doesn't mean there are enough to make it worthwhile for the drug company to do the testing to be able to market it to such groups.
- LorenPechtel 1y ago
  The original criteria was for people who had not already been exposed. And over 45s that engage in casual sex have almost certainly been exposed. Those who don't have prior exposure probably have few or one partner in a marriage or marriage-like situation and thus are not likely to be exposed. Yes, they could be cheated on or the like but exposure is not expected so effectiveness can not be measured.
loeg 1y ago
It's not "recommended" but your PCP can prescribe it off-label if you ask -- just ask.
- al_borland 1y ago
  I met with a new PCP a few weeks ago and it was recommended to me (at age 43). I got the first shot with the 2nd and 3rd scheduled for the coming months.
- pimlottc 1y ago
  The issue is getting it covered by insurance. Otherwise it can cost over $1,000 for the full course of shots.
  - loeg 1y ago
    You can get costs down somewhat (half that) even uninsured with GoodRx.
    - pimlottc 1y ago
      Thanks for the recommendation! It seems like a good option, but afaict you still need to get your doctor to write you a prescription, and they may have to administer the shots as well: https://support.goodrx.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000707483-How-do-I-find-and-use-coupons-for-vaccines https://support.goodrx.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000707483-Ho...
- pyuser583 1y ago
  I'm sorry, but you sound like the people who try to get me take ivermectine for Covid. "just get it off label" or "tell the doctor you just got back from pauea new guinea and saw worms in your stool." I know you are very well intentioned, but American's actually have very good doctors.
  - loeg 1y ago
    This is very different from recommending horse dewormer; if you can't tell the difference, I'm sorry.
peterlk 1y ago
This is not true any more. The vaccine has been shown to lower cancer risk for those who already carry the virus, so it is recommended even for people who are HPV positive
- v3ss0n 1y ago
  That's interesting and I would like to take, can you give me a link/ ref for citation?
  - cornholio 1y ago
    This is a totally predictable result, there are dozens of HPV strains and the vaccine will immunize against 9 of them that are high risk. So, unless you are a sex worker or similar, it's unlikely you "have" all of them to the point where the vaccine is completely useless. You might later get infected with a strain that you didn't yet have, and it's precisely the one that kills you.
- jjtheblunt 1y ago
  so how would one in the US go about getting it? gardasil?

p1necone 1y ago

That feels like a wild assumption to me - we really think people 45+ aren't having casual sex? less casual sex maybe, but I would imagine still a decent amount, statistically.

finghin 1y ago
If you’re having casual sex at 45+ you probably already carry HPV.
- pcthrowaway 1y ago
  Sure, but you probably don't already have all the strains which can cause cancer.
- p1necone 1y ago
  Yeah that makes much more sense as an explanation than OP.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- tehjoker 1y ago
  Maybe, but all 9 cancer causing strains covered by the vaccine? HPV also clears on its own usually after some time afaik.
- phkahler 1y ago
  There are over 30 strains of HPV with just 2 causing the majority of cancers. So sure, most people may have had some strain of it, but that's not really relevant unless immunity is broad across strains.
- TurboHaskal 1y ago
  Or, you could have been suddenly cheated on and exposed, or divorced and recently entered the dating market, or thinking about opening up your relationship after decades of monogamy.
  - LorenPechtel 1y ago
    But the number of such people is low, it would not be easy to find candidates for the trial. Just because there are some doesn't mean there are enough to make it worthwhile for the drug company to do the testing to be able to market it to such groups.
LorenPechtel 1y ago
The original criteria was for people who had not already been exposed. And over 45s that engage in casual sex have almost certainly been exposed. Those who don't have prior exposure probably have few or one partner in a marriage or marriage-like situation and thus are not likely to be exposed. Yes, they could be cheated on or the like but exposure is not expected so effectiveness can not be measured.

loeg 1y ago

It's not "recommended" but your PCP can prescribe it off-label if you ask -- just ask.

al_borland 1y ago
I met with a new PCP a few weeks ago and it was recommended to me (at age 43). I got the first shot with the 2nd and 3rd scheduled for the coming months.
pimlottc 1y ago
The issue is getting it covered by insurance. Otherwise it can cost over $1,000 for the full course of shots.
- loeg 1y ago
  You can get costs down somewhat (half that) even uninsured with GoodRx.
  - pimlottc 1y ago
    Thanks for the recommendation! It seems like a good option, but afaict you still need to get your doctor to write you a prescription, and they may have to administer the shots as well: https://support.goodrx.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000707483-How-do-I-find-and-use-coupons-for-vaccines https://support.goodrx.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000707483-Ho...
pyuser583 1y ago
I'm sorry, but you sound like the people who try to get me take ivermectine for Covid. "just get it off label" or "tell the doctor you just got back from pauea new guinea and saw worms in your stool." I know you are very well intentioned, but American's actually have very good doctors.
- loeg 1y ago
  This is very different from recommending horse dewormer; if you can't tell the difference, I'm sorry.

peterlk 1y ago

This is not true any more. The vaccine has been shown to lower cancer risk for those who already carry the virus, so it is recommended even for people who are HPV positive

v3ss0n 1y ago
That's interesting and I would like to take, can you give me a link/ ref for citation?
- cornholio 1y ago
  This is a totally predictable result, there are dozens of HPV strains and the vaccine will immunize against 9 of them that are high risk. So, unless you are a sex worker or similar, it's unlikely you "have" all of them to the point where the vaccine is completely useless. You might later get infected with a strain that you didn't yet have, and it's precisely the one that kills you.
jjtheblunt 1y ago
so how would one in the US go about getting it? gardasil?