When I got my most recent pap (2007) they tested for HPV without even asking. I asked about it and the doctor said it was required for every pap now.

Also a year or so ago there was a HUGE campaign in Canada about HPV and to ask your doctor and get tested.

So, at least somewhere in the world they are educating people about it!

Great rant.

I agree with you about educating our children early on. And as LG says, I too didnt know anything about it until earlier this year! Subsequent emotional fallout from this is immense, as is having underage sex which again, I agree is a totally different debate entirely.

I hope that getting it off your chest here has helped to ease things a little. I would recommend you stay away from the boards if only to keep calm yourself. Ignorant people cannot be expected to debate intelligently about pro’s and cons - especially when they are coming from a place of fear; however unfounded or skewed you and I may think it is.

There is a push from govt to try and start educating and enabling people to not be in the same kinds of situations you find yourself in. there is hope

big hugs x

So yes to the vaccine, absolutely. It if saves women from this, so much the better. But also a very firm YES to education, as you say, to tell people about HPV. I knew nothing about it till this happened to me - aged 30! So much for sex education.

Fab, your comment has confused me and I am not sure whether you have misread my post. HPV is the virus that I am talking about. This vaccine protects against two (of the four) main strains that can lead to cervical cancer (note, they don’t always lead to cervical cancer, but 95% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer turn out to have these strains of HPV). The more people you sleep with without using a condom, the greater your chances of sleeping with someone carrying the virus and so the greater your chances of contracting it. Use of the Pill is linked to people choosing to use that as their only method of contraception, again increasing their chances of contracting HPV. This is simple mathematics and the Pill has been linked to not using condoms all the time. (Indeed, many many girls just stop using condoms altogether when on the Pill, and don’t even bother to have “the talk” with their partner about whether they are STI-free or not at all).

The Pill may have a link to reducing cervical cancer in terms of medical make up - but using it has been linked to altering sexual behaviour. Not in a deviant sense. Simply as explained above. If you are on the Pill, you are less likely to use condoms (esp in a longterm relationship) and even in a longterm relationship, your partner may already be carrying HPV.

That is where this rant is coming from. So many arguments like this have two sides that are equallky compelling. In my case, I am inclined to believe the side I believe. Fact is, if I hadn’t been on the Pill, I would have always always always used condoms. It was knowing that me and my partner(s) were “STI-free” (before I even knew about HPV) that made me stop using condoms and rely on the Pill to protect against pregnancy (my only fear given that I was not worried about STIs) and therefore made me vulnerable to HPV, a virus that they have done bugger all to educate or publicise in the UK.

Big hugs to you honey. Its gonna be ok. x

I do understand that parents will be concerned about whether the vaccine has been well tested, but frankly, it has been recommended by so many experts with years and years worth of training and research knowledge that I think (for all my hating my doctors) we need to listen to what they are saying.

Again, I want to underline that most women will never experience this severity of reaction, but if this debate (and ranting and raving on blogs all over the world just like this one) means that young people become better educated about this virus, then that is one massively good thing.

Personally, I would leap at the chance to turn the clock back ten years and have this vaccine. It would directly have benefitted me. But I also understand that I am just one individual.

One of the arguments against implementing this immunisation programme is that it will “only save 400 women a year”. I do think you can’t put a price on life and health. While it may “only” save 400 LIVES, it will mean that THOUSANDS more women will be spared the humiliation, pain and worry that treatment of PRE-CANCER (let alone the big C.C).

And how humiliating, painful and worrying is it? Well, here at Blue soup you have seen the worry and humiliation. I will document the pain. Don’t you bloody worry about that.

Thank you EVERYONE for taking the time to comment and (above all) to email me privately and send me lots of love and luck and happy thoughts. xxxx

I’d keep away from discussion boards. Let’s be polite ….. not a good source of wisdom, literacy or moral behaviour.

Tricky times, yes. Remember, you have lots of support from your readers.

Don’t be scared about it. Just talk it through. Two inconclusive (borderline) results really mean nothing to worry about. They’ll just monitor you. If it goes up to CIN1, then speak to them about the chances of progression. Honestly, most cases revert back to normal. It is rare to get to CIN3, and rarer still that these changes will go on to develop into cancer. They estimate 10 years so as long as we are all careful and have regular smears, we will be fine. It is just because mine have been crappy from the word “go”.

If you have any worries, just talk to your practice nurse and she will reassure you. I know it’s easy to get frightened about these things, and I’m not a great person to talk to because my rational self is marred by the fear I have at the moment.

Just look after yourself honey, and keep up those pap tests when they call you in for them x

i am completely with you on your rant and sending tons of good thoughts your way x