HPV vaccine/Herpes vaccine

[mags81]

I know that recently an HPV vaccine became available to the public, but does anyone know how to go about getting this? I would really like to get it if I can. I would be willing to pay for if it is not covered by insurance, but I don't even know how to go about getting it as I don't have a regular doctor.

Also, there is a clinical trial for a new herpes vaccination. To participate in the trial you can't have herpes at all (type one or two). I was thinking about participating in the clinical trial if I test negative for type 1, but I don't really understand how a clinical trial like this works. Are they safe?

So, what do you all think about these new prevention methods for std's?

[dengeist]

Bwah?

extralettersextraletters

[SunDevil]

You need to find a doctor who knows enough about the vaccine and will give you the shots. I think I heard on TV that they cost ~$500 and are given over a three - six month period. You might have to be in a high risk group to get it first, and even then it only prevents a few of the strains of HPV.

Vaccines are the best way to stop diseases, but there is very little incentive to create them. Financially, a drug company makes billions more on drugs that you have to take once or twice a day for the rest of your life.

[batt97]

The vaccine is available through any doctor. I'm a pharmacist and have conducted clinical trials, usually they consist of several visits, initially u would have a physical and lots of tests, then maybe you'd receive the vaccine or a placebo, and would have to be on a consistent form of birth control, and then they would see you back over the next 12-36 months and look for HPV.

[shimma]

I know that recently an HPV vaccine became available to the public, but does anyone know how to go about getting this? I would really like to get it if I can. I would be willing to pay for if it is not covered by insurance, but I don't even know how to go about getting it as I don't have a regular doctor.

Also, there is a clinical trial for a new herpes vaccination. To participate in the trial you can't have herpes at all (type one or two). I was thinking about participating in the clinical trial if I test negative for type 1, but I don't really understand how a clinical trial like this works. Are they safe?

So, what do you all think about these new prevention methods for std's?

I say awesome that they are developing the vaccines, now where's the one for hiv? ;)

but personally it bothers me in the first place that there isn't more education out there about prevention. ie, these 2, you can still get through a condom, and they need to be telling people that, both in sex ed and in public service announcements. sooo many people my age (mid/late 20s) seem to think that a condom protects against everything, and end up getting (a) burned or (b) pissed when their partner requests std tests before they have sex period.

[embrassezla]

but personally it bothers me in the first place that there isn't more education out there about prevention. ie, these 2, you can still get through a condom, and they need to be telling people that, both in sex ed and in public service announcements. sooo many people my age (mid/late 20s) seem to think that a condom protects against everything, and end up getting (a) burned or (b) pissed when their partner requests std tests before they have sex period.
mm-hmm. also, not many people know that your male partner can get tested and STILL carry & pass HPV to you since there is NO test for it in men.

[shimma]

mm-hmm. also, not many people know that your male partner can get tested and STILL carry & pass HPV to you since there is NO test for it in men.

no kidding, and not to mention, they get pissed if you tell them. like it's a personal insult to *suggest* someone might have a common std.

[WorkInProgress]

but personally it bothers me in the first place that there isn't more education out there about prevention. ie, these 2, you can still get through a condom, and they need to be telling people that, both in sex ed and in public service announcements. sooo many people my age (mid/late 20s) seem to think that a condom protects against everything, and end up getting (a) burned or (b) pissed when their partner requests std tests before they have sex period.

I take your point, and yes, it is upsetting that people don't know what they should, but...

Is it too much to ask that adults be a little proactive about their own health--is it so hard to go to a site like WebMD, or google "STDs" or "HPV"? Or, alternatively, talk with a doctor about it?

And I don't think I'd want to have sex with someone who got that angry about taking an STD test.

[shimma]

I take your point, and yes, it is upsetting that people don't know what they should, but...

Is it too much to ask that adults be a little proactive about their own health--is it so hard to go to a site like WebMD, or google "STDs" or "HPV"? Or, alternatively, talk with a doctor about it?

And I don't think I'd want to have sex with someone who got that angry about taking an STD test.

Um, I am proactive about my health. It annoys me when others are not.

And I certainly won't even sleep in the same bed as someone who won't take STD tests w/me. (according to a guy friend of mine, this is part of why I am not married yet, and he's probably got a point there, but whatev :rolleyes: ). It just suprises me how annoyed (I have seen and heard of) some people getting.

[WorkInProgress]

Um, I am proactive about my health. It annoys me when others are not.

I figured you were--we were both talking about uninformed other people.

[chicagogirl]

Um, I am proactive about my health. It annoys me when others are not.

I agree, but then some people come from areas where there isn't good sex ed, or even health ed (I had a friend form a small town in Michigan that doesn't teach things like sex ed and physics. Every year they'd have some 13 year old girl pregenant b/c she didn't know what she was doing :mad: ). In general, I dislike western medicine because it puts the doctor at the top, insisting that the doctors knows you better than you know yourself. I think it teaches people to not listen to their own bodies, and to put the state of their health in others' hands.

[shimma]

I agree, but then some people come from areas where there isn't good sex ed, or even health ed (I had a friend form a small town in Michigan that doesn't teach things like sex ed and physics. Every year they'd have some 13 year old girl pregenant b/c she didn't know what she was doing :mad: ). In general, I dislike western medicine because it puts the doctor at the top, insisting that the doctors knows you better than you know yourself. I think it teaches people to not listen to their own bodies, and to put the state of their health in others' hands.


i hear what youre saying, you do need to listen to your body, but i assume some med school graduate knows more about std prevention than i.

[SunDevil]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060731/ts_nm/cervicalcancer_vaccine_dc

I guess that the new vaccine is for both men and women. I'm not sure if they can or can't test for it in men, but this will get rid of 4 strains of the virus supposedly. And it might even be given in people who have warts already, so that makes it more of a cure, I would guess.

[ocd_lass]

Since about 80% of my social circle has had HPV at some point, I'd like to say about fucking time !

A couple of useful things I've learned about the disease, not necessarily the vaccine:

The warts will go away untreated. Many doctors refuse to treat them. Treatment only makes cosmetic changes- you are still infectious. Also, the treatment can be worse than the disease itself (Anyone up for putting "for external use only" burning cream on their delicates?)

A lot of old websites will say that once you have HPV, you have it for life. But a lot of new research (that I'm too lazy to cite) says that once you beat the warts, you've beaten the infection. What they used to think were 'relapses' were actually re-infections. Nice for peace of mind.

And of course, statistically, the majority of people reading this all have or have had HPV, so if anyone's being self-righteous, feel free to hit them.

*Edited for typo.

[Taza Tikha]

Since about 80% of my social circle has had HPV at some point, I'd like to say about fucking time !

A couple of useful things I've learned about the disease, not necessarily the vaccine:

The warts will go away untreated. Many doctors refuse to treat them. Treatment only makes cosmetic changes- you are still infectious. Also, the treatment can be worse than the disease itself (Anyone up for putting "for external use only" burning cream on their delicates?)

A lot of old websites will say that once you have HPV, you have it for life. But a lot of new research (that I'm too lazy to cite) says that once you beat the warts, you've beaten the infection. What they used to think were 'relapses' were actually re-infections. Nice for peace of mind.

And of course, statistically, the majority of people reading this all have or have had HPV, so if anyone's being self-righteous, feel free to hit them.

*Edited for typo.

Amen. Especially the self-righteous part in regards to this particular infection, since it's very fickle when it comes to testing, and condoms don't prevent it. I'd also add:

You can have warts and not know it, male or female. Not all warts are invisible to the naked eye, and some can easily be mistaken for razor burn.

On the grand scale of STDs, HPV is pretty low on the totem pole in terms of seriousness. Get your regular gyno exams, catch cervical cancer early, and don't sweat the small stuff.

[ocd_lass]

Y'know- just to re-clarify this because the title of the post, HPV is not Herpes.
HPV is temporary, Herpes is permanent. Herpes needs constant treatment, HPV treatment is optional.

This is an especially important distinction to make when explaining one's HPV status to a new partner. :)

[kipper]

But a lot of doctors still tell people it's for life. Some don't believe in temporary.

[slaphappy]

My doctor was recently telling me about the vaccine and recommending I take it. Here's what I know:

1) You can only take it if you are under 26 (which is weird, but they're working on getting that changed to have no limit)
2) It costs approx $150 for each shot w/o insurance (series of three shots)
3) It prevents 5 strains of the virus

I think it's a GREAT idea and if you're reading this post you should take it, even if you have a strain or two of HPV - why not protect yourself from at least the other strains???

[Illuminous]

I could br wrong, but as I understand it, there's a LOT of strains of HPV out there.

And i think i heard something about you can't take the test if you've already been infected. Which sucks, because it's not like the chicken pox here

[slaphappy]

I think you're right on the several strains of hpv. The shots only prevent you from getting the five most common - including the kind that causes cervical cancer.

And, you CAN still take it if you are already infected.