Amy, you do have a unique prespective. I can totally see why you choose to get your dd vaccinated. I just have to say I am still not sold on it. I will do more research and then make a final decision. However, if the cervical cancer is caused by an STD, then I think those of us with young children can opt out now without risk. My dds are 9 and almost 2...time is on my side. I know something unforseen can happen...but I stick with the status quo when both options are unknown or a chance.
Ok, so I thought I had said all I had to say on this issue, but after reading a few more posts, there are a few things that I got hit with. Most of these have to do with a Christian standpoint, so PLEASE do not be offended. Many people have said that you can't control what will happen to your child. They could be raped, or marry someone who is not a christian. I really believe that we may be working on FEAR in that. This is not something that everyone is dying from, nor is it as contagious as say, the flu. This is a disease that is contracted through unprotected intercourse. I understand that MANY people have been down this path, and I am NOT looking down on you. I do feel, however, that we may be trying to "play God." By using FEAR to make a decision, we are worring, and not trusting that God is in control...when in fact, he is, wheather we realize it or not. My point is, because your child may be raped you get this shot. So, because your child may be abducted, do you keep them at home 24/7 and never let them outside, or to the store? It's the same logic. And it's the same FEAR. Also, I do worry about my daughter being lumped into the catagory of having pre marital sex just because of her age. There have been MANY reports about girls lying about haveing sex when. They just don't want to be see as different. And, I also wonder why we can't spend the billions of dollars for this shot that the government is going to have to pay to begin to teach abstinence (sp?) Why not take out the idea of "playing safe" and instead teach "don't play?" If more girls (and boys) began to understand that maybe it's not so "cool", maybe there would be less children trying it. Also, it's not all the guys fault when it comes to pre-marital sex. Remember, it takes two. And there will ALWAYS be boys out there that haven't messed around. Again, I am not trying to offend. I am sorry if I have.
I am waaaaaaaay offended by the "Morality Issue". lovinghomeschool... (This is a freindly debate, not a slap at you, ok?) This disease is NOT passed through "Unprotected Intercourse", thank you. A condom has NO effect, because it is passed #1 through the SKIN and #2 from Mother to child. What do I tell my daughter when I explain to her that I have it? Do I say that I let GOD out of my life? That I chose the wrong men? (I was married twice) That we will now PAY for our sins? What did SHE do to deserve to have a mom that may die early? You say you are not making a judgement, then you counter that by talking about virginity. That tells me you think this is a morality issue and it is not. Whose to say WHERE the HPV virus originated? Read more, before you make assumtions that your daughter or her future husbands virginity will have ANY effect on her contracting it.. read on ....... You DO realize that it is also passed to child from mother during birth, right? So you VIRGIN son in law can still give it to your daughter, whom you choose to not protect..... bad scenario. I have HPV and precancerous cervical cancer. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year. This is an issue of protecting that which SHE cannot control and that is the actions of others, including the parents. I dare everyone of you to go get tested, then be high and mighty about it being a Dirty persons' disease. Most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know they are infected. The morality issue is null because even TWO VIRGINS can end up with it. The issue of if the shot is safe is all that matters. And since we cannot ever be sure of that, the secondary question is parental consent. I do concede that. Everyone who is hesitant due to safety, I am right there with you. But if you keep your daughter from a health protection to teach morality, means you are no different then those who choose not to use the brain God gave them and the talents he bestowed upon them to make others well (I speak of those who refuse any medical treatment because God will make them better and medical treatment is blasphemous.) I am pretty darn sure that I am raising my kids to choose their friends well. However, they are NOT perfect. And how do I know that their friends chose THEIR friends well? How will I know that their friends, Grandmother had a husband who cheated, then passed it to their mother, who passed it to this virgin friend???? By the way, HPV is considered a sexually transmitted disease only because it passes through the skin at the genitals.......it is NOT passed through sexual intercourse.... skin to skin contact. And it does pass from mother to child when the physician does not know to look for it. (Kinda like blaming AIDS babies for what their parents did.) Please keep an eye on the safety factor. Please do not refuse the help just on a morality question. If you feel ONE ounce of snobbery welling up in you, when you think of the morality issue, then go get tested. I dearly care about you guys, but this is offensive. I never even heard of HPV or how to protect myself until I had it. I suppose the ignorance was a Good thing? That is stupid. Oh and for the record, I NEVER had ONE symptom. Not ONE. So perhaps YOU should be tested. Are you sure that your grandfather's mother's father never messed around????????? Also, they SAME dr that delivered my twins via c-scetion due to prematureaty and placenta previa... is the same DR who diagnosed me AFTER the twins were born...... The tests are NEW NEW NEW... so whose to say that YOU MOTHER didn't have it.. and yourself? I will be off for a while. I need a break. Centers for Disease Control
Jen, I think the main point is that we shouldn't be living in FEAR. And that's one point I will agree with. I am not fearful of contacting this or any other kind of cancer. I am not worried about my children contacting it. I guess I'm MORE fearful of putting something in her body simply because a bunch of people who will get rich for promoting it (ie: the drug company) says it's a good thing! And I HAVE heard on the news that this is a good way to "protect" all the young ladies that are having sex out there. That's what the MEDIA is saying, at least around here! I'm not saying what's best for anyone. We all have to decide that on our own. But I DO know that MY girls WILL NOT take it until they are adults and decide otherwise for themselves. And I'm still offended by a government who wants to force the decision on all the people who are indifferent. (NOTE!!! By that I DON'T mean people who have looked it over and made an intelligent decision to have it done! I mean all of those who just stand by and say, "Oh, yeah, I guess....")
Good points Jen. I know that I am ignorant of this, I honestly don't know much about it, so your points are well taken! I think everyone on here is just discussing this, and hopefully this doesn't have to turn into a "hot" issue! I've learned a lot already by reading through this, and enjoyed reading from all sides, so I could better form my own viewpoint!
Jen PLEASE understand that I was NOT in any way, trying to make ANYONE feel bad about their lives or their past. I was trying to make the point that we can't allow fear to dictate what we do with our children. As I have stated before, I don't know how I feel about the shot, and am not sure that my child will get it because of the lack of long term testing. However, I am very sorry that I offended you. It was not my intention to make you feel that way.
Because of people I have known, I KNOW it's never just the guy's fault, I don't think many people do! It's not a fear issue with me. If I chose for my dd to get this shot it would be because I felt it was the best thing overall. If I choose for her NOT to get the shot, it would be the same, because I felt, based on what we know, it's best not to until she can make her own decision one way or another. Like I said, I don't know a whole lot about this issue, and have learned from reading peoples posts. My final decision will be based on what dh and I feel is the best for our daughter, no FEAR involved, just planning for the future and making what we feel is the best decision based on all we've heard/seen/read! Thanks all of you for your viewpoints, I think it helps to discuss issues like this...
Amen, well said Deena, that is my point. I need to do alot of research and praying on this one. Is it the right thing for my girls? I don't know yet?
Here is an article done by The American Cancer Society on cervical cancer. Please read BOTH pages as they really opened my eyes. The first page is good and at the bottom there is a link to the next page titled "Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?" just click on that. FYI- Although the protection is not complete, CONDOMS reduced the infection rate by 70%. This article and the facts about cervical cancer have only proven to me that I WILL NOT have my dd's vaccinated. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_what_is_cervical_cancer_8.asp
Thank you, Crystal! I'm like you. It has reinforced what I had heard, and made me even more certain that it is not something for my girls.
Vantage! How insulting to say that people who get their kids this shot are the ones who 'need' it. I hope I misread your post somehow.
I should not have worded my reply so strongly. It sounds like I am yelling. I am sorry. It was meant to show my strong emotion, not to be yelling at you. I am sorry. I'm working on perfect, today I haven't made it there yet.
Deena, I am right where you on this issue. It will require alot of research and discussion and prayer. But whatever we decide to do, it will be because that is what we feel is best for our dd. I do appreciate everyone's viewpoint on this. It is good to get different perspectives because I, for one, don't always think of every different aspect of a situation. It is good food for thought.
Can I join the "Not Perfect Club"? I do so well at not being perfect that maybe I should be President!
No, you silly! I was saying that if you get a conversation started about the president and knowledge that it could start another war, on here. Goofy girl!
Here is a thought I had not read throughout this thread and it was a thought that was posted by someone on one of my other groups. Opinions???
