So, today was my 6 week check up to see how I'm healing from the cryo procedure. Great news, I'm all healed wonderfully & I can do whatever I want, no restrictions... problem is, I've got this thing called...
Anyhow, Doc was yet again wonderful at answering my millions of questions and I learned a couple of things y'all might find interesting.
1. Gardasil can be effectively used in adults over the age of 26. The only reason it isn't used is because insurance won't cover it. But, if you want to pay for it yourself ($200-$300 per shot) the shot will work for both men and women. Also, if you have one form of HPV and do not want to get others, Gardasil is just as effective at protecting against the ones you don't already have. Gardasil is a series of three shots given over a period of six months and protects against the four most common forms of HPV. So, lets say you manage to meet and fall in love with someone who has by some miracle not caught HPV - If you have the strain(s) that Gardasil vaccinates against, your potential mate could get the vaccine so that you don't pass it on to them.
2. Women do not have to have an abnormal pap to test for HPV. However, that is the only way insurance will pay for the test. If you want to pay for the test yourself, it can be done with a routine pap smear. There is no blood test for HPV.
3. Men CAN be tested for HPV even if they do not have symptoms. They must see a urologist familiar with the procedure & from the way my doc winced at the thought of how the test is performed, I'm guessing it isn't pleasant. Same concept as a pap for women, but taking samples from inside a much smaller opening on a man.
Class dismissed. Thank you for paying attention and enjoy your recess. ;)
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