why I wish I would've gotten the Gardasil shot

Question

if anyone is struggling with the choice of getting the Gardasil shot or not, please read.
I strongly recommend the Gardasil shot. when I was of age for it, there were so many side effects that my mother was worried about. (keep in mind, this was nearly 9-10 years ago, new on the market, & not many things were known about it) 
I just turned 21 in August & went to the gynecologist for my first Pap smear. I've only been with two guys & never thought anything about it. I've always used condoms, as well as birth control, even though I've been on & off being sexually active since I was 18. I took every measure possible (so I thought) to guard myself from any STI/STD out there. 
I got a call from my gynecologist just yesterday telling me that they had found some low grade irregular squamous cells from my Pap smear & wanted to do another test just to check everything out. after a colposcopy this morning, I tested positive for HPV.  you never think it will be you. I always thought, " this can't happen to me. I can't be one of those statistics". 
My doctor then reassured me that it is VERY common; every 3 out of 4 women will get it. AND, it's not just from sex, regardless if you use protection. it can be spread via any contact with the genitals, pelvis to pelvis, & even kissing (cold sores)!!! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT???!!!! 
even after hearing this information, the thought of 'I have a STI' is forever burned into my brain, at the moment.
luckily, they caught it early, & will continue to do Pap smears every 6 months until my body fights the infection off. then, I will return to yearly Pap smears. sorry that this post is so long, but if I can help in any way to prevent someone from feeling this way, it is well worth it to me. so my answer to your question would be yes. go Gardasil. I will always think "what if I would've gotten the shot? would I be in this predicament today?" 
even though manageable at the moment, HPV can lead to cancer of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women. if there is a way to prevent it, why not? 
in my opinion, HPV is SEVERLY under addressed & not brought enough awareness to. 
I hope my post has helped someone to make the decision to prevent this common, yet frightful infection. if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment!

Answer

I got the gardasil shot and still had an irregular pap and HPV. I got the shot before I was even sexually active! They are hundreds of HPV strands and it does not protect you against them all! Just a forewarning!

Answer

I the shot has proven ineffective in recent studies as there are so many strains of HPV and the shot only covers a certain number. I got diagnosed before the shot came out and had only been with 2 people. It's been 8 years and so far all paps are regular. It can happen to anyone.

Answer

There are other STDs one can get even when using protection. You can get an STD even when you practice abstinence (i.e. rape). While protection use, vaccination, regular testing, and other responsible behaviors should be encouraged, I think it's important to point out that contracting an STD isn't a moral failing. It doesn't make you a "slut," or "damaged goods," or a bad person. It's not "dirty." Arguably an actual dirty part would be not not informing potential partners about one's status.

Answer

I got the gardisal shot, all the rounds of it and I still got hpv. It doesn't protect against all strains and only protects against some strains of hpv no other stds/stis. I just had my Pap smear a week ago and I have abnormal cells due to hpv.

Answer

In pretty much the same boat! I wasn't aware of the option of getting the shot. About 4 years ago I went in and found out I had HPV and it had ended up turning into cervical cancer. I've went through so many horrifying procedures to get it taken care of...I'd never want to see someone else go through it.

I recommend it to anyone who has the chance to be protected from it.

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I honestly wouldn't have gotten the shots if it had been up to me, but it wasn't. I was underage, I've talked to many who had reactions.

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Thanks for sharing your story!

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I got my daughters the shot last year if I remember right it's a 3 course shot it's just not one shot but s series like the hepatitis shot when babies

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It worked for me. I had hpv, then the LEEP procedure to cut out the abnormal cells. Got the vaccines over a period of 6 months/whatever it was supposed to be and now, normal paps

why I wish I would've gotten the Gardasil shot

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