1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 14, 2006, 3:24 pm PST

As a former teen girl, I completely agree w/ your opinion that young girls who choose to have sex will do so w/o regard to whether or not they received this vaccine. I do not think it should be mandatory, but having it will not be what convinces a girl to have sex.

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 15, 2006, 8:03 pm PST

I am wondering since I dont have the breadmaker anymore and the loss of an ovary, but still have my cervix if I should ask my doc about the vaccine...Just about 6 months ago I went in for a total physical and he told me since I dont have a uterus, that a papsmear would be useless...I also asked him about a breast examination, and he also told me that they dont start giving breast examinations until about 40 or so, but he did ask if I do my own self breast exams..and I said yes of course I do as well as when I am sexually intimate with my husband I am sure he feels around quite a bit too...but honestly I am not sure exactly what to feel for...and I am embarrassed to admit it but hey what can I say..Anyway..I think that my dr. was either too embarrassed to give me a full exam or that he just didnt believe in it...Anyway there are no gynecologists in town and so I would have to be referred to a gyne about an 1 1/2 away...Stormi you always have a plethera of knowledge and I do respect your opinion...Do you think I should ask my regular MD for a referral to a gynecologist and get a gyne exam even though I have missing parts? Or do you think I should let it go? I got an email a while ago saying that even though you may have had a hysterectomy it doesnt prevent you from getting cervical cancer, and that it cannot be done by just a pap..you actually have to have a special test done...I have been thinking about this for while now...because cancer does run in my family on my moms side...So Stormi...I am ready for your infinite wisdom to help me make a knowlegeable choice. peace to you and thank you in advance.

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 15, 2006, 9:20 pm PST

A pap smear is the test that checks your cervix for abnormalities that may indicate cervical cancer. I wouldn't trust a doc that said no pap was needed b/c there is no uterus. My doc said the new test for cervical cancer markers is advocated mainly by the company that makes it and the gyn docs don't feel it's better than the pap yet. However, there is an email circulating about a screening test for ovarian cancer that I want to ask my doc about...

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 15, 2006, 11:50 pm PST

catnap thats the one I think I was talking about...I think I just worded it wrong....Thanks for the advice. I think I may just go for it...Peace to you :)

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 4:29 am PST

Oh and I almost forgot a GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO YOU TOO... :)

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 6:04 am PST

I was diagnosed with precancer in my cervics over a year ago. My doctor suggested that I try the vaccine because there was about a 50% chance that it could help or hurt me in the long run. I was sick of getting paps and colposcopies every 3 months and the pain that I was in was reason enough for me to try. I recieved the first dose of the 3 shot series in September and I had a pap the next week after that. When I recieved news two weeks later that my precancer cells were completely cleared. I think this shot is a miracle for me and if it can help females from getting the number one cancer for us, then why would we not recommend it for a vaccine just like the flu shot or a measils vaccine...

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 6:05 am PST

I was diagnosed with precancer in my cervics over a year ago. My doctor suggested that I try the vaccine because there was about a 50% chance that it could help or hurt me in the long run. I was sick of getting paps and colposcopies every 3 months and the pain that I was in was reason enough for me to try. I recieved the first dose of the 3 shot series in September and I had a pap the next week after that. When I recieved news two weeks later that my precancer cells were completely cleared. I think this shot is a miracle for me and if it can help females from getting the number one cancer for us, then why would we not recommend it for a vaccine just like the flu shot or a measils vaccine...

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 9:20 am PST

#5 Now that I think about it, the cervix is the tip of the uterus, so if you've had the uterus removed, you wouldn't have a cervix, right?

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 9:24 am PST

#7 Thanks for that info. I didn't think the vaccine would be appropriate for me (for reasons I won't go into) but your story makes me think I need to ask my doc about it....

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 9:27 am PST

Dr. Margolis, if you haven't covered the test for ovarian cancer it would be great to hear what you think about it. The emails circulating about it make it sound like it should be standard, like a pap smear.

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 10:09 am PST

Catnap, I just looked this up, and I do believe when the gynecologist removed my uterus it was the upper portion leaving the cervix.During a hysterectomy, the uterus may be completely or partially removed. The fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be removed. A partial (or supracervical) hysterectomy is removal of just the upper portion of the uterus, leaving the cervix intact. The reason I decided to look this up was not to proove you wrong, but was to assure myself that what I was feeling every now and again during sexual intercourse was hitting my cervix...I also about 2 1/2 years ago had my right ovary removed because of tortioning...which was extremely painful..they thought at first it was appendicitis, but during laparascopic surgery found that when the Dr. touched my ovary it would tortion...So I hope this may have cleared up any confusion as to whether or not a hysterectomy can leave the cervix or not...I knew I felt something left in the playground...LOL.. peace to you :)

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Thu, Nov 16, 2006, 10:17 am PST

I didn't know all the possibilities, that's why I posed what I said as a question. I learn something new every day and I do like it that way. peace.

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 21, 2006, 3:39 am PST

i am a mother of three children, 2 are girls one is 9 and the other is 7. i am not against the vaccine at all, and for getting the vaccine, some people say that is only gonna encourage girls to go out and have sex, i do not think so, if you have a close relationship with your daughter and able to talk openly about sex with them, i feel you as a parent can influence your children not to have sex at this age.

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 21, 2006, 9:08 pm PST

As a virgin teenager myself, I'm mostly interested in hearing when the best time to get the vaccine would be. So pre-sex is good, but does age matter as long as it's pre-sex? If I get it as a virginal 25-yr-old (eh) is it better or worse than as a virginal 18-yr-old? And, as with some vaccines I've heard of, is there any chance that a bad dose of the vaccine could actually give you HPV? I'm eager to learn more.

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 21, 2006, 9:09 pm PST

As a virgin teenager myself, I'm mostly interested in hearing when the best time to get the vaccine would be. So pre-sex is good, but does age matter as long as it's pre-sex? If I get it as a virginal 25-yr-old (eh) is it better or worse than as a virginal 18-yr-old? And, as with some vaccines I've heard of, is there any chance that a bad dose of the vaccine could actually give you HPV? I'm eager to learn more.

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