The UK government are intending to immunise all girls aged 12 and 13 against 2 forms of HPV which causes cervical cancer. This is a course of 3 injections.

Although it is only effective against 2 forms, they are the most common ones, but it seems that they are also treatable easily after early detection of pre-cancerous cells.

There is a thought that girls who are given this vaccine would in future years when called up for their routine pap smear, would think that the vaccine would protect them and that they would not attend. It is also thought that they might also become more sexually active thinking that they were protected.

I understand that this is available in the US and would welcome any opinions on whether I should allow my daughter (who is not yet 12) to have this.

The vaccine was developed by Australian scientists and has been used routinely here for around 3 years. Girls aged 13 are vaccinated in a schools program. It in NOT compulsory, but most chose to have the vaccination. Many of my friends daughters have been vaccinated with no ill effect.

Personally I consider that vaccination is a good thing. The benefits far outweigh the risks.

Routine pap smears will still be a part of every womans life. Unfortunately pap smears are not compulsory either, so there will always be some who chose not to have them. Unfortunately, cervical cancer has very few symptoms until advanced stages.

I don't think that todays young women, with education and guidance from parents, will see this vaccine as a sure fire method of preventing cervical cancers, but it WILL help. Obviously any 'new' vaccine will be viewed with some doubt.

The choice is your, but gather as much information as you can, talk to your daughter and both of you make the decision.

As far as a vaccine allowing girls to become more sexually active? I am not so sure. We have witnessed AIDS campaigns, and yet still people practice unsafe sex. Oral contraception is freely available, and yet there are still unwanted pregnancies. I doubt this vaccine will change any of this.

Had my daughter been young enough when the vaccine first hit the market, I would have talked to her about it--especially if I thought there was a possibility of cervical cancer in her background (I'm not my daughter's birth mum.) This may be something that should be taken into consideration.

If there is a background of cancer in your or your husband's families--of any kind--then I'd really think about it.

As it happened, my daughter was more interested in boys and gymnatics at 12-13 and had no idea what cervical cancer is. Nor is there any history of cancer in her birth family.

Thanks ladies...some interesting things to think about.

My hubby had facial cancer and my mum has had pre-cancerous cells - so far (just had routine pap smear) I am clear. I had not thought that any cancer in background would be a factor, but it may make our decision easier.

My daughter isnt into boys as yet, having two brothers puts her off

I think both the vaccine and pap smears are both a good idea, and being vaccinated does not mean one should not monitor ones health. We won't know fully about the benefits/ill effects of this vaccine from a epidemiological point of view, for perhaps a few decades, but the risk of cancer from these viruses is very real.

If this is the same vaccine that i am thinking of, i was told that it also helps to prevent genital warts.

I am not sure about that. Though some HPV do cause warts, I think the more dangerous types of the virus do not usually produce visible warts.

I heard on the radio today that with continued vaccination of girls at 12-13 years of age, this virus could be completely gone within 40 years. 40 years sounds a long time to wait, but not for our daughters and their daughters and so on.
My fiance as some would already know works as a cytologist and he is all for the vacine. What a great day it would be not to have to diagnose a cervical cancer to any woman, not matter what type it was.
Cancer is silent in its attack and we don't often have symptoms that may warn us that something is wrong, so therefore, catching the wretched stuff early is not always possible.
Sending reminder notices to patients is a good idea, if it is on a database I guess, I know I get reminders for eye tests, dentist appointments, hair dressers and such, but not for a pap smear. Strange really isn't it!

But boys are not being vaccinated, and males can also carry the virus. Also, not all types of HPV are being vaccinated against.

This is the information I got from my hubby on your question Myrddin.
HPV is carried from person to person, and also some question mark as to exposure to the child during child birth.
HPV is a family of over 60 viruses, there are two vaccinations, one covers two types of virus and the other 4 types.
Both of them prevent HPV 18 which is responsible for 75% of cancers of the Female Genital Tract.
If the virus is erradicated in women, then it is going to erradicate it from the population.
Cancer of the penis is less common than cancer of the cervix.
Any cure of any type of cancer is a step in the right direction, and its good to see some sort of progress somewhere.
He also said that it can be passed between homosexual men.
So far it doesn't look likely that men will be vaccinated.