Hpv Vaccination For Men Who Have Sex With Men
Men who have sex with men have not benefited in the same way from the longstanding girls’ programme, so may be left unprotected against HPV.
Since April 2018, MSM up to and including 45 years of age have been eligible for free HPV vaccination on the NHS when they visit sexual health clinics and HIV clinics in England.
Ask the doctor or nurse at the clinic for more details.
Who Should Not Get It
Certain individuals should not receive the vaccine. This includes:
- individuals with a severe allergic reaction to a past dose of HPV vaccine or any component of the vaccine
- those with an allergy to yeast
- people who are pregnant
recommends postponing vaccinations until after the pregnancy. People who are breastfeeding may get the vaccine.
Those with an allergy to yeasts or who have severe allergic reactions should first consult with their doctor. If a person is unwell or has a severe condition, they should consider speaking with their doctor before receiving any vaccines.
When Should Vaccination Occur
Vaccination is most effective when given prior to HPV infection i.e. before becoming sexually active. For people who are already sexually active, the vaccine may still be of benefit. This is because there are many strains of HPV. The vaccine can still protect us against those strains that we haven’t yet been exposed to.
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Vaccines: Boys Vs Girls
But there is more to this discussion.
âThe most cost-effective use of vaccine, as we know it today, is to vaccinate young girls before they get exposed to HPV,â she says. âMen who have sex with men would also benefit greatly, and the rest of the population of men would benefit in terms of reducing genital warts, possible anal lesions as well as anal and penile cancer, but they are at low risk for those cancers.â
âThere is benefit, but are we willing to spend that much money on a vaccine to get that amount of benefit,â she says. âMost of the evidence suggests that it would not be a good use of health dollars to vaccinate all boys.â
This could all change if the vaccine cost comes down or if the uptake in young females remains low, she says. âIt is trending upward, but if it remains low and we can cover boys instead, that may be a good cost-effective strategy.â
Why Adults Should Get The Hpv Vaccine
HPV infection is extremely common most sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point in life. HPV infection usually causes no symptoms, but can cause genital warts and anal cancer in both women and men. HPV can also cause throat cancer.
In women, HPV infection can cause cells in the cervix to grow abnormally. In a small fraction of women, these HPV-induced changes will develop into cervical cancer. About 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and about 4,000 women die from the condition.
The HPV vaccine prevents infection by the HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers. Up until 2017, there were two vaccines available . Today, Gardasil 9 is the only available HPV vaccine in the U.S.
Gardasil 9 prevents infection by the same HPV types as Gardasil, plus HPV-31, HPV-33, HPV-45, HPV-52, and HPV-58. Collectively, these types are implicated in 90% of cervical cancers. In October 2018, the FDA approved Gardasil9 for everyone ages 9 through 45
HPV vaccines are extremely effective at preventing infection by the HPV types they cover. Getting the HPV vaccine reduces a womanâs risk of cervical cancer and precancerous growths substantially. Men cannot develop cervical cancer, but the HPV vaccine may prevent genital warts, penile cancer, anal cancer, and the spread of HPV to sexual partners. Gardasil 9 is approved for males ages 9 through 26.
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Human Papillomavirus And Pregnancy: Can Hpv Be Passed From Mother To Child
Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection , with the highest rate in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. HPV can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex or skin-to-skin sexual contact. Anyone whos exposed to HPV during sex can be infected, but is it possible for someone to pass it to their unborn child? This article explains the potential risks associated with HPV and fertility, conception, and pregnancy.
Hpv Vaccine For Males
The new study does not address cancer risk in boys and men, he says. âThese data provide evidence that the vaccine can be efficacious in males, and adds to the list of reasons to consider vaccinating boys and men,â he says. âIn theory, this could cut down on cancers, but it hasnât yet been proven.â
The big debate now is whether or not universal vaccination of young men should be encouraged, he says.
âHPV is a sexually transmitted infection, and the burden of vaccination should not fall solely on girls and women. HPV causes disease in men too,â he says.
In addition, men who have sex with men are at increased risk for genital warts and anal cancer and likely would not benefit from female vaccination, he says.
Casting a wide net that vaccinates all boys aged 9-26 would cover such high-risk groups, he says.
So why not do it?
âThe main disadvantage is cost, because thus far the vaccine appears to be safe,â he says. âItâs less cost-effective because most of the serious diseases such as cervical cancer occur in women, not men.â
âTheoretically, if you vaccinated all women, you wouldn’t need to vaccinate men except for men who have sex with other men,â he says. Not every female who is eligible for the vaccine has received it, and many females — and their current or future sexual partners — remain unprotected.
With universal vaccination, this issue goes away, she says. âYou wouldnât have to think about it and you prevent HPV in everyone.â
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How Is Hpv Transmitted
HPV passes easily between sexual partners. It can be transmitted through any intimate skin-to-skin contact, including vaginalpenile sex, penileanal sex, penileoral sex, vaginaloral sex, and use of sex toys or other objects. The infection passes easily between sexual partners. Condoms and dental dams can lower the chance of HPV transmission but do not prevent it completely.
Are There Any Adults Who Should Not Receive The Hpv Vaccine
Certain people should not get the HPV vaccine or should wait before getting it:
- Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of the HPV vaccine
- Anyone who has had a previous life-threatening allergic reaction to an ingredient in the HPV vaccine
- Pregnant women
- Anyone with a moderate or severe illness people who feel mildly ill may still receive the HPV vaccine.
The HPV vaccine is not known to be harmful to pregnant women or their babies. However, until more information is known, pregnant women are advised not to receive the HPV vaccine. Women who are breastfeeding can safely receive the HPV vaccine.
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Who Can Get The Hpv Vaccine And What Does It Do
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In this regard, can you get HPV after getting vaccine?
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What are the side effects of having the HPV vaccine?
Less serious side effects may include:
- pain, swelling, redness, bruising, or itching where the shot was given
- mild fever, headache, dizziness, tired feeling
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough or.
- tooth pain, joint or muscle pain.
What is the shot called for HPV?
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What If I Choose Not To Have The Hpv Vaccination
As HPV is common and unavoidably – and often unknowingly – shared once you start having sex, if you are not vaccinated you are at risk of catching the HPV virus.
For all people with a cervix, inclusive of those who identify as men , regular cervical screening will ensure early detection and treatment of HPV-related abnormal cells and prevention of most cervical cancer.
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How Safe Is The Vaccine
The vaccine is very safe and no different from other common vaccines. The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site. Millions of doses have now been given all over the world. As for all medicines and vaccines, ongoing surveillance continues to monitor safety.
The Medsafe website has further information about Gardasil 9.
What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Warts
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area around the penis or the anus. These warts might be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. The warts may go away, or stay the same, or grow in size or number. Usually, a healthcare provider can diagnose genital warts simply by looking at them. Genital warts can come back, even after treatment. The types of HPV that cause warts do not cause cancer.
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How Many Shots Are There For The Hpv Vaccine
The vaccine is given in a series. The number of shots you need varies depending on the age you are at your first dose.
- Anyone getting the vaccine prior to age 15 needs two doses of the HPV vaccine to be fully protected. They should be given six to twelve months apart.
- If you are 15 through 26 years old, you need three doses. You will need a second dose one to two months after your first dose. Then you will need a third dose six months after the first dose.
When Should People Get It
Health authorities recommend people receive the vaccines at a young age. This is because getting them before a persons first sexual contact can offer lifelong protection against HPV-related cancers. Children can take it as early as age 9 years, but people typically receive the vaccine at 1112 years old.
Children younger than 15 years old only need to have
- nausea
- dizziness or fainting
Sometimes, people can experience jerky movements or may faint after receiving their shot. So it is advisable for people to sit or lay down for about 15 minutes after receiving their shots to help prevent them from fainting or falling.
Rarely, people with severe allergies may have severe allergic reactions after receiving their shot. People should tell the healthcare professional of any severe allergies before receiving the vaccine.
Individuals and caregivers of children can inquire about the HPV vaccine from their healthcare professional, community and school health clinics, health centers, and health departments.
Individuals can also check the CDCs
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How Long Will The Vaccine Prevent Hpv Infection
How long a vaccine will protect people is never known when the vaccine is first introduced. Current research shows that the vaccine is effective, and theres no sign that the protection decreases with time. Research will continue to look at how long protection against HPV lasts, and if booster shots will be needed.
How You Can Get Hpv
HPV which stands for Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted virus that you can catch from an infected person through:
- sexual activity, including oral sex
- intimate skin-to-skin contact with an infected person
You don’t have to have intercourse to get HPV.
Without immunization, three out of four sexually active Canadians will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.
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Gardasil Hpv Vaccine Stopping Genital Warts
Widespread Vaccination of Girls Curtails Genital Warts, Even in Men
The HPV vaccine used in Australia is Gardasil, developed by CSL Biotherapeutics in Australia and licensed to the U.S. firm Merck. Gardasil is a four-way vaccine that protects against the two HPV strains that cause most cervical cancers as well as the two HPV strains that cause most genital warts.
In 2007, Australia launched a school-based vaccination campaign for all girls ages 12 to 16 and a catch-up program for all women up to age 26. The three-shot vaccination was free, and nearly two-thirds of young Australian women received the Gardasil vaccine.
Now a survey of more than 112,000 people attending Australian sexual health services finds that genital warts cases have dropped substantially since the vaccination program — but not for everyone:
- Genital warts cases dropped by 59% in women under age 26 at the time of the vaccination program.
- Genital warts cases dropped by 28% in exclusively heterosexual men, especially among young men.
- Genital warts cases did not decline in women too old to be included in the vaccination program.
- Genital warts cases did not decline in men who had sex with other men.
- Genital warts cases did not drop in non-resident women living in Australia.
Hpv Vaccine Prevents Genital Warts More Evidence That Gardasil Works
Recently, a new large meta-review has been published that shows the HPV vaccine prevents infection by HPV types that are linked to genital warts which probably means it can prevent the other HPV types that are linked to several cancers. So, if we can prevent these genital warts, we probably can prevent HPV-related cancers.
This article will take a look at why the HPV vaccine is so important and review this review on how the HPV vaccine can prevent genital warts.
Contents
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Who Should Get The Hpv Vaccine
All people ages 9 to 45 can get the HPV vaccine to protect against genital warts and/or different types of HPV that can cause cancer. Its recommended that children get the vaccine at age 11 or 12, so theyre fully protected years before they become sexually active.
But regardless of your age, talk with your nurse or doctor to find out if the HPV vaccine could benefit you.
What Does Having Hpv Mean For Me Or My Sex Partners Health
See a healthcare provider if you have questions about anything new or unusual on your own or your partners penis, scrotum, anus, mouth or throat. Even if you are healthy, you and your sex partner may also want to get checked by a healthcare provider for other STIs.
If you or your partner have genital warts, you should avoid having sex until the warts are gone or removed. However, it is not known how long a person is able to spread HPV after warts are gone.
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How Safe Is The Hpv Vaccine
The HPV vaccine has been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration . The CDC has approved this vaccine as safe and effective. The vaccine was studied in thousands of people around the world, and these studies showed no serious safety concerns. Side effects reported in these studies were mild, including pain where the shot was given, fever, dizziness, and nausea. Vaccine safety continues to be monitored by CDC and the FDA. More than 60 million doses of HPV vaccine have been distributed in the United States as of March 2014.
Fainting, which can occur after any medical procedure, has also been noted after HPV vaccination. Fainting after any vaccination is more common in adolescents. Because fainting can cause falls and injuries, adolescents and adults should be seated or lying down during HPV vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after a vaccination can help prevent fainting and injuries.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
It’s common to have questions prior to getting a vaccine. Some questions you may want to ask your healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine are:
- When should I get the HPV vaccine?
- Are there any side effects of the HPV vaccine?
- How does the HPV vaccine work?
- Where is the HPV vaccine given?
- How effective is the HPV vaccine?
- Is there any reason to not get the HPV vaccine?
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What Are The Side Effects Of The Hpv Vaccine
Side effects that people get from the HPV vaccine usually are minor. They may include swelling or pain at the injection site, or feeling faint after getting the vaccine. As with other vaccines, there is a rare chance of an allergic reaction.
A few people have reported health problems after getting the shot. The FDA is monitoring the vaccine closely to make sure these are not caused by the vaccine itself.
Most people have no trouble with the vaccine. You can make fainting less likely by sitting down for 15 minutes after each shot.
Treatment For Cell Changes Caused By Hpv Infection
Although HPV infection itself cannot be treated, there are treatments for the precancerous cell changes caused by infection with high-risk HPV.
Precancerous cervical cell changes: Most women who have precancerous cervical cell changes are treated with the loop electrosurgical excision procedure , which is a method to remove the abnormal tissue.
Learn more about treatments for abnormal cervical cell changes.
Precancerous vaginal, vulvar, penile, and anal lesions and genital warts: Treatment methods include topical medicines, surgical excision, cryosurgery, and laser therapy.
HPV-related cancers: Individuals who develop an HPV-related cancer generally receive the same treatment as patients with tumors at the same site that are not related to HPV infection. However, patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer may receive different treatments than patients whose oropharyngeal cancers are not caused by HPV.
Learn more about treatment options for oropharyngeal cancer, including targeted therapy and new types of treatment such as immunotherapy being tested in clinical trials.
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