I've read through the whole thread and unless I've missed it, no one has mentioned one very important fact.
Someone did mention the concern that some girls will believe they are "protected" against all the other std's out there because they have gotten the vaccine. What about the girls who believe they are 100% safe from cervical cancer because they got the hpv vaccine. We need to remember that this is not a vaccine for cervical cancer. The vaccine is for HPV. Two very different things.
Having the vaccine and being immune to HPV, does NOT mean you are immune to cervical cancer!
There are many types of cervical cancer and not all of them are caused by HPV. I have friends who told me that they don't need to get their pap anymore because they can't get cervical cancer. Silly me assumed they must have had a hysterectomy or something...but no, they had had the vaccine and therefore believed they were protected from cervical cancer.
That's simply not true.
Another misconception surrounds the list of risk factors. You might be positive for every single risk factor and not get it. BUT, it's just as possible that you can answer no to all of the risk factors and still end up with Cervical Cancer. Risk factors are just sort of a guide that help ppl know what kinds of things may make them more likely to get it. It's not a checklist of causes. You are not safe simply because none of the risk factors applies to you.
When the commercials for the vaccine came out, one of them even made the statement that "all forms of cervical cancer are caused by HVP". That was so wrong and I'm glad that one seems to be off the air.
Everyone needs to remember that the vaccine is great and it will help to protect you. Staying away from the risk factors will also protect you. Of course, that will also protect you from a myriad of sexually related problems. But your biggest protection is early discovery.
If you start having symptoms (pain or achiness in the lower abdomin...can be very slight, bleeding during/after incourse, spotting when it is not close to your period, etc...) please see your GYN asap.
Bleeding from sex isn't usually normal. Well, aside from the first time, that is) Of course there are many possible reasons for bleeding like size issues, tears, rough play, etc... But if you are with a familiar partner and you've never bled before and then you suddenly do with no apparent reason for it. Don't mess around...just go get it checked out.
Pap smears and annual exams are still the best weapon we have against cervical cancer.
Caught early, in most cases cervical cancer can be very treatable. If it is caught too late, you will die from it.
