Hacker News Reader

Over 30% of women have "high risk HPV", it's pretty hard to avoid if you're sexually active and have unprotected sex - and even condom use is no guarantee of protection. It can take years for symptoms to develop, making it difficult to determine where the infection came from.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats14/figures/48.htm

View on HN

There is a recently developed vaccine for HPV which has turned out to be more successful than was expected. Currently it is recommended only for high risk groups, but is available for others who may be at risk for exposure.

The problem with that vaccine is that they only give it to young people. If you're over 30, you're outta luck. Basically they assume that if you're over 30 and are sexually active, you already have HPV.

You can get it with doctor's consent. It's true that it's not effective if you already have HPV, but it's also relatively side-effect free, so many doctors have started becoming willing to prescribe (if you ask) on the theory that if you don't have HPV, it could be lifesaving for you or your future partners, while if you do have HPV, it has no effect.

Good to know, thanks! I'll ask my PCP about this then. It couldn't hurt.

Indeed. It's incredibly disingenuous, not to mention a risk to the public health, to scream "STD!" equal loud for HPV and HIV.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com