Gardasil shot's pain is worth it, doctors say

“But the pain is not so bad that it's preventing girls from coming back for their second and third doses.”

A much-debated vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in girls and young women is getting a reputation as one of the most painful childhood shots, but the sting isn't enough to turn away patients, Rochester-area ... via Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

[monica]

Well I just got my first shot and let me tell you it's not easy but it is worth it.

[Lisa]

Yeah, except getting regular Pap smears and practicing safe sex give you a better chance of avoiding cancer than Gardasil does. Nevermind the fact that Merck admits getting the shot when you're already infected with HPV actually INCREASES the cancer risk, yet doesn't recommend any screening before administration. Yeah, I'll pass on this for me and my kids, thanks.

[Nick]

Me and my girlfriend were both virgins when we met. We have only been with eachother and no one else. Is there any point in her getting the shot? I always felt that the LESS chemicals you injected into your body the better, so I don't want her to spend the money for a vaccine that she dosn't even need.

[magentaargyle]

Lisa wrote:

Yeah, except getting regular Pap smears and practicing safe sex give you a better chance of avoiding cancer than Gardasil does. Nevermind the fact that Merck admits getting the shot when you're already infected with HPV actually INCREASES the cancer risk, yet doesn't recommend any screening before administration. Yeah, I'll pass on this for me and my kids, thanks.

That's really weird about the increase in cancer risk because the studies I've seen (NOT conducted by Merk) have shown a decrease in risk (see this link for a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Australian researchers last May). The vaccine boosts the body's immune reaction and therefore helps fight off the infection faster. New theraputic vaccines are currently in development that will help cell-mediated immunity destroy the virus more effectively than the preventitive vaccine on the market now. It is pretty friggin expensive for all three shots of Gardisil, but it can save you a ton of money later on repeat Paps and Colposcopy/LEEP/CONE procedures, which your OB/GYN is going to insist you have done in order to identify and remove pre-cancerous lesions on your cervix. Considering that cervical cancer is the 2nd deadliest cancer among women (lung cancer is a distant 1st), I'll take any protection I can get, and I hope you reconsider--if not for yourself, then for your daughers' sake. Not that we all shouldn't be getting regular Paps and practicing safer sex, but an extra mode of protection can save a lot of stress and money and pain from intrusive gynecologic procedures later on.

[magentaargyle]

http://content.nejm.org.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/cg...

--Australian Gardisil Clinical Trial

[Kristen]

I think that any vaccine that prevents cancer is wonderful... I just got my first injection and it wasn't even that bad... Even if you aren't planning on being sexually active what if your future mate has been? And what about rape? You don't really have control over that either.

[christina]

I got my 1st shot a few days ago & let me just say, it hurt like hell. Not to mention the side effects that came along with it made it more unpleasant. Reading a lot of other stories that girls have wrote, make me feel a little uneasy about getting the other 2 shots needed. Not sure what to do.

[magentaargyle]

christina wrote:

I got my 1st shot a few days ago & let me just say, it hurt like hell. Not to mention the side effects that came along with it made it more unpleasant. Reading a lot of other stories that girls have wrote, make me feel a little uneasy about getting the other 2 shots needed. Not sure what to do.

I'm not sure exactly how severe the side effects were for you, but I do know that having a chunk of my cervix surgically removed hurt a hell of a lot more than getting those three shots did. You'll just have to weigh the risks (i.e. how many partners you have, whether or not you use condoms-which have been shown to reduce the trnsmission rate by about 25% or so, Whether cervical cancer runs in your family, whether you get regular checks ups to catch abnormal cells early, whether you have insurance to cover any procedures to remove pre-cancerous/cancerous cells, etc. against the pain and side effects and cost of the vaccine. I hope you find a balance! Good luck to you. If your in a long-term monogamous relationship, you're probably not at that high of risk, so there's always that to consider, too.

[Mercedes]

Im Really Scared To Have These Shots!!
From The Looks Of It And The Hearings Of It Im
Really Scared. Im Only 14 And Pain Isnt My Thing
But If It Helps Me In The Future Aww What The Heck.

[Harveysjule]

Go to www.909shot.com and learn more about it!! By NON- drug manufacturing companies.

[Danielle]

I just my first shot the other day and it HURT! But its 2 days later and my arm is still sore! I dont wanna get the other 2 but there was no point in gettin this one then. I'll go thru with them

[whitney]

i got the garadasil shot and im gettin painful headaches and dizzyness.please do not get this shot!!!read what other people have to say about it.please again do not get this shot

[Emma]

I think that the dizzyness and headaches and other side affects that may occur outweigh the what actually happens when you contract HPV. It is painful, embarrassing and dangerous and if serious may effect you chances of giving birth.
I would rethink and look up what happens when you have HPV and how serious the disease actually is before you decide not to get the shot over vomitting!!!