The diseases of promiscuity
Herpes infections frequent in adolescent girls
Timely, given my last post. A couple of scary points:
1. Asymptomatic shedding.
In the past, it was always believed that if you had no lesions then you were okay to engage in the recreational activities that earned you the virus to begin with. Our lab was fairly intrumental in putting that notion to bed. As this study shows: Many, many people have HSV and have no idea, and meanwhile they are perfectly infectious. People with HSV can readily shed the virus on their skin and never develope any obvious symptoms.
2.The article kept referring to 14-18 year olds as "women."
3.They point out that efforts to reduce these infections "need to target children before adolescence."
Our doctor recently suggested the new HPV vaccine for our daughters. Human papilloma virus is an unbelievably common STD that besides the joy of causing genital warts it also leads to an increased risk for a number of cancers, including cervical.
Curious about the new vaccine I asked a research pediatrician I work with and she highly recommended it. Of course, the crazy thing about it all is that the conversations with these doctors all worked around the base assumption that teens are going to be promiscuous, and I truly felt as if I could not dare to assert that my girls would not be engaging in such dangerous behavior. Hmm.
It's totally assumed, and so now we are being told that we need to talk about STD's with our CHILDREN, well before they are teens. Of course, we all know what is being implied when the state is "targeting" our children for sexual indoctrination. I doubt they will be told that in reality there is NEVER such a thing as safe sex and that the only way to remain disease free is to keep your pants on.
And, a little reminder...HSV is no joke. It regularly kills or gives brain damage to newborns. Keep that in mind the next time someone tells you that promiscuity is a risk taken only by the participants. Even the bedroom is part of the community.
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Comments
As a father and as someone who works on the science side of STDs, what's your thought?
I say, get the vaccine. Kids grow up and make their own choices, and a stupid choice (even if only for one night) might lead to a world of hurt. If it were my kids (poster children for Will-Make-Stupid-Choices), they'd be rolling up their sleeves.
I liked what Anonymous said above, though, and there's the nasty little fact that we don't know if it's only transmitted through sexual contact, or if it can find other means of wandering into a host. I'd say, better safe than sorry.
I certainly think that if it is going to be given, it should certainly be given to the boys just as much as the girls.....
People DO wait, it IS possible! And it is our responsibility to teach our children that importance of waiting. The responsibilities of waiting. The sacredness of waiting.
Yeah yeah, call me ignorant.
I know I can't make their decisions for them, but I CAN set an example and teach them. And I can pray and have faith in a God of mercy and love that He will guide them and protect them. And that they may call on His Name!
BUT....I'm torn over this vaccine because you do not know who your son or daughter may fall in love with. And it being an STD and very common. I'll have to call upon James and his knowledge of the disease.
Just don't tell me my kids CAN'T and WON'T live an adolescent life without sex.
It's Liz in Bothell, and I was the anonymous poster. I'm right there with you, Susan...it IS possible, and we are teaching that around here every day. Howevever, I wouldn't bet the farm on my kids' abilities to make good choices, especially under pressure. I would probably go with the argument that a future husband might unknowingly be a carrier. But I probably wouldn't bring that up until the young lady was older.
All this having been said, I have two boys, so take everything with a Y-chromosome grain of salt.
Liz
Here's the thing about vaccines. I have never been personally convinced by any study that the potential risks might outweigh the benefits. I was just reading about China having to beat to death 50,000 dogs because three people died of rabies recently...that sort of thing and much worse has been eliminated because of vaccines. Most of us have no recollection of the horrors of polio.
I have heard ALOT about the dangers and possible effects of collective vaccines, but I really have not seen much convincing scientific proof for me to withold those vaccines from my kids.
HPV is a particularly nasty bug that can kill you. As it is, I trust the scientfic and medical opinion of my pediatrician colleague - but, of course, I reject her philosophical perspective on the free will of humankind and their ability to keep their pants on.
So, it would seem the HPV vaccine is likely very safe and very effective. And, there is indeed the possibility for someone to get the disease without being promiscuous - say from a spouse who was promiscuous (and recall, it only takes ONE promiscuous event) in their youth, as Liz well notes.
The vaccine is radically different from handing out a condom before a date. Condoms are partially effective for use when engaging in promiscuous behavior to begin with, the vaccine protects no matter what - and frankly my girls will not being going out on dates with a current list of vaccines and serum anti-body level test results in order to make their sex "feel" more safe...despite the direction we seem to be headed as a society.
So, what I am saying is this: getting the vaccine isn't a "get sex without reprecussions" card. If kids are going to be promiscuous, odds are they are not going to consult their vaccination records beforehand.
Sigh.
Liz
And, just for clarification, I am mainly opposed to having my (eventual) kids vaccinated on the official schedule, not necessarily opposed to vaccinating in general. I will probably have them get at least most of the normal vaccines (haven't decided on the specifics - I need at least SOME bridges to cross when I get there), but I will certainly delay. Especially since I assume my kids will be leaving this country, considering my travel history, so I think it would be unwise to not vaccinate at all. Of course, I do respect other parents' wishes to not vaccinate at all, and wish the medical community were not so pit bullish about it.
Both of my children were raised in a God-fearing, Christian home, participated in the True Love Waits program, had many, many, many conversations about the pitfall of premarital sex, etc.
Both are sexually active. My DD had a positive pap smear 3 times running. Though the doc said it was NOT an STD/HPV. I still don't believe her.
Get the vaccine. And keep on preaching/praying.
Another point to consider is that not all sex is concentual. Child molesters and rapists may choose your child as a victim. None of us think it could ever hit our children, until it does. How much protection do you want to provide to your child if they become a victim? For that reason alone, my daughters will be getting the vaccine.