If you really want to know what strain it is, your doctor can have PCR test ran. But its probably not going to be cheep and why he didn't mention it. I'd say its still worth asking about it so you can both have a better understanding of your long term treatment.

Thank you for the advice. I will keep it in mind. To be honest, I'd rather have been told the test exists and given the choice. I'm under the philosophy of people being responsible for their actions and always given the choices available to them. Maybe this test isn't as known about in "Family Medicine" circles?

I learned I had HPV after finding anal warts and going to the doctor to check them out. The other thing about there not being a test for the virus to confirm is which strain of the virus you might have. I likely have one of two strains related to anal warts and the vaccine only covers a single or certain strains, not all. I got the vaccine after the diagnosis for the future and with any chance to reduce the warts or fight the virus at all, although they say the virus could never go away. My warts did go away not long after the third/final round but that may just be coincidence based on the lifespan of the warts.

Someone mentioned an increase risk in rectal cancer in men from HPV, where did you see this? I don't remember seeing such a risk in my searches. I was under the impression the virus had non-cancer effects in men.

Another point about this virus I feel isn't widely known is you can still get it with protected sex. It can be transmitted by skin-on-skin contact. That is, the skin around the crotch, outside of a condom, against a rear end for example in anal sex. Scary thought in my mind.

In regards to after effects from the vaccine, I didn't notice or remember anything other than the typical sore arm as it the same type of shot as the flu.

If you really want to know what strain it is, your doctor can have PCR test ran. But its probably not going to be cheep and why he didn't mention it. I'd say its still worth asking about it so you can both have a better understanding of your long term treatment.

Someone mentioned an increase risk in rectal cancer in men from HPV, where did you see this? I don't remember seeing such a risk in my searches. I was under the impression the virus had non-cancer effects in men.

Another point about this virus I feel isn't widely known is you can still get it with protected sex. It can be transmitted by skin-on-skin contact. That is, the skin around the crotch, outside of a condom, against a rear end for example in anal sex. Scary thought in my mind.

In regards to after effects from the vaccine, I didn't notice or remember anything other than the typical sore arm as it the same type of shot as the flu.

So much for gender equality.

@scoyng:

Well I asked my Doc about the HPV vaccine today. …..I had to have a prescription written, filled at a private pharmacy, vaccine brought back into the clinic and then administered.❞

This is great news, I'm glad it worked out for you. That you were able to request a medication, purchase it, and then have it administered all within twenty-four hours is living testament to the benefits gained by those with access to such a thing, a resource that others may only dream of.

:cool2:

Well it wasn't actually delivered today.  The pharmacy had to order it so it won't be in until tomorrow, and then I can begin the first course of injections, which I believe number in three.

It's still a hassle to get it administered under the age of 19, regardless of someone willing to pay all the costs or not.  Red-tape had to be cut to simply allow me the right to purchase this immunization due to my elderly age of 31.

-sly
-sly

Well I asked my Doc about the HPV vaccine today. …..I had to have a prescription written, filled at a private pharmacy, vaccine brought back into the clinic and then administered.❞

This is great news, I'm glad it worked out for you. That you were able to request a medication, purchase it, and then have it administered all within twenty-four hours is living testament to the benefits gained by those with access to such a thing, a resource that others may only dream of.

:cool2:

Most of the things that add to the cost of the ride are covered by the province's healthcare system. That's likely the big reason for the difference in the price.

@scoyng:

…  He was happy to order it for me but the federal and state governments had decided I had no need for it.  Current legislation only allows for children to be vaccinated with public funds, and of course private insurance won't pay for it outright, regardless of age.  ...

... Anyway the vaccine cost around $200 plus whatever my doctor is going to charge to inject me with it.  But I'm still glad I'm having it done. ...

Welcome to reasons why I'm glad that I live in Canada. As a Canadian covered under the Ontario Healthcare Insurance Program (OHIP), which is available to all residents of Ontario who are either Canadian citizens, or are landed immigrants, such things are covered. About the only thing that isn't is the mere $50 fee for an ambulance.

For residents in other provinces or territories, the equivalent to OHIP in their province flips the bill as this "universal system" is available to ALL Canadian citizens or immigrants, regardless of the province in which they reside.

Are you insane?  How do they get away with charging $50 for an ambulance ride when they can charge $5,000 here (U.S.).  Probably because having the most advanced private health care and insurance system in the world, as we do in the U.S., our ambulances are not your garden variety snow-dog team stung together, our's have wheels, bright lights, noise makers and can even work on snow free surfaces.  Can't say that about you snow sleds.

-sly

…  He was happy to order it for me but the federal and state governments had decided I had no need for it.  Current legislation only allows for children to be vaccinated with public funds, and of course private insurance won't pay for it outright, regardless of age.  ...

... Anyway the vaccine cost around $200 plus whatever my doctor is going to charge to inject me with it.  But I'm still glad I'm having it done. ...

Welcome to reasons why I'm glad that I live in Canada. As a Canadian covered under the Ontario Healthcare Insurance Program (OHIP), which is available to all residents of Ontario who are either Canadian citizens, or are landed immigrants, such things are covered. About the only thing that isn't is the mere $50 fee for an ambulance.

For residents in other provinces or territories, the equivalent to OHIP in their province flips the bill as this "universal system" is available to ALL Canadian citizens or immigrants, regardless of the province in which they reside.

Now I might see the reasoning in this if there were a shortage of the vaccine, and then the ones' not currently sexually active hold off on vaccinating until shortage is resolved. But to creating so many hurdles for such a public health issue is bad medicine.

Anyway the vaccine cost around $200 plus whatever my doctor is going to charge to inject me with it.  But I'm still glad I'm having it done.  Anyone notice any side effects?

-sly

-sly