Gardisil - a huge step forward for women's health

I hope you all have heard of Gardisil, the vaccine that protects girls from the Human Papiloma Virus. It was introduced last year, and in my opinion the introduction of this vaccine should have been met with widespread celebration to acknowledge the advance they've made in women's health. Scientists and health professionals now know that HPV causes 70% of cervical cancers, and cervical cancer tends to be aggressive, fast-growing and hard to treat unless caught early. The release of Gardisil means it is now possible to give young women protection against this mostly-silent killer of women.

Was there dancing in the streets? No, there was controversy initiated by conservative Christians who were worried that this vaccine might lead to promiscuity and cause girls to have (whispered) S-E-X. Why is it that anything connected with the female reproductive system is automatically equated with promiscuity? It's the old double-standard. I'll bet if they came out with a vaccine that prevented prostate cancer it would be a whole different ball game.

Let's get a few things straight:
1. Gardisil is a vaccine, not birth control.
2. Whether or not a girl is vaccinated against HPV, she's going to have sex when she's ready and not one minute sooner or later, no matter what you say.
3. If she's vaccinated against HPV, she'll be protected against a potentially deadly disease.
4. Think that if she remains a virgin till marriage and then marries a "nice boy" she's safe? Think again. According to my doctor, the percentage of men who are infected with HPV is so high they just assume that ALL MEN HAVE IT!!! That includes "nice boys".
5. Refusing to let your daughter receive the Gardisil vaccine puts her life in jeopardy. Do you refuse to let her wear a seat belt? Same difference, only the threat is less immediate.

Please, please, please get the facts and then make sure your daughters get this livesaving vaccine! I only wish this vaccine had come out when I was young enough to get it. If I had a daughter I would make sure she received the Gardisil vaccine at the earliest opportunity. Personally I think this vaccine should be mandatory for public school attendance, just like mumps and measles vaccines used to be when I was in school. Either you're vaccinated or you can't attend school.

"In America sex is an obsession, in other parts of the world it is a fact." - Marlene Dietrich

Later,
AuntieM