The HPV Virus Can Cause Cervical Cancer,
Anal and Genital Warts, And Anal Cancer.
Protect Yourself With The FDA-Approved Vaccination.
The FDA approved Gardisil for use in females ages 9 – 26. The intent is to vaccinate them before they become sexually active and, therefore, at increased risk of contracting the virus that may lead to cervical cancer. Well, the cells that make up the cervix and the anus are so similar that lab tests performed on pap smears from both look for the same cellular abnormalities.
So, yes, the new vaccine targeting a virus that causes cervical cancer in women has immense benefits for men. In fact, clinical tests have proven such. That’s important because HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease and is almost impossible to prevent; some 20 million Americans already are infected.
While most HPV infections are asymptomatic, certain types of the virus cause cervical cancer, anal and genital warts and anal cancer, among other maladies. I can tell you that every day I deal with gay male patients affected by HPV, from minor warts to widespread warts, precancerous cells in the anus to full-blown anal cancer.
So, I am excited about Gardisil, the approved HPV vaccine, since it has been shown to be 99 percent effective in combating HPV Types 6 and 11, and 100 percent effective in combating HPV Types 16 and 18. While there are more than 100 strains of HPV, these four types are the real focus because Types 6 and 11 account for 90 percent of anal and genital warts, and Types 16 and 18 account for 70 percent of all anal and genital cancers.
Although everyone who is sexually active can be affected by HPV, HIV-positive gay men have the highest risk of anal HPV infection. A recent study of HIV-positive gay men in San Francisco demonstrated that 95 percent of them had anal HPV and more than 50 percent had signs of precancerous lesions. It is estimated that around 65 percent of HIV-negative gay men carry HPV.
Notably, HPV has been shown to at least double the risk of acquiring HIV, so preventive HPV vaccine may have some benefit for HIV prevention, too.
Gardisil is administered in a series of three injections at zero, two and six months. The vaccine is not made from live virus, so you do not run the risk of contracting HPV. The injections are well-tolerated and safe for HIV patients. The most common side effect is the same as it is with most any injection – minor pain, swelling and irritation at the injection site.
And, although an effective HPV vaccine is a major advance, it does not provide protection against all types of genital HPV; nor does it provide protection against other STDs. Thus, recipients of the vaccine should certainly still practice protective sexual behaviors.
The cost of receiving the (series of three) vaccinations from your provider will likely be nearly $600. Some insurors cover this cost; others do not. Your provider’s office can help you determine this up front, as does my office.
Whomever pays, if you compare the cost to the potential impact on your health – both economic and physiological – it’s a bargain. With that, I encourage every gay man who has been, is or plans to be sexually active to discuss HPV vaccination with his medical provider. And, guys, if you have not had an anal pap smear, it’s time to do that too.
How much do I believe in the possibilities offered by the HPV vaccine? I’ve had the series of vaccinations myself.