HPV Vaccine For Males

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the HPV vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix beginning in 2006 for women. In October 2009, the FDA approved the use of the first HPV vaccine, Gardasil, for boys or men age 9 through 26 for the prevention of genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11. The vaccine does not protect boys and men against all HPV types that can cause these cancers; it does protect them against the two HPV types (types 6 and 11) that cause 90 percent of genital warts in the U.S.

The New England Journal of Medicine recently released a study showing boys and young men who receive the human papillomavirus vaccine appear to be at reduced risk of contracting the virus and developing the genital warts. The study included more than 4,000 sexually active males between the ages of 16 and 26.  Approximately 0.5 percent of the boys and men who received all three shots developed genital warts during the subsequent 2 to 3 years. By contrast, about 2.8 percent of the study participants who received a placebo vaccine developed warts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than half of American men will get HPV at some point in their lives. An estimated 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Symptoms often do not appear so most people who have the virus pass it on without knowing it. HPVs are a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and are easily passed by genital skin-to-skin contact. Actual sexual intercourse does not have to take place. Rubbing against each other while naked, mutual masturbation combined with embraces, sharing of sex toys, oral sex, anal sex can spread the virus. HPV can cause certain cancers of the anus and penis in men, although those diseases are far less common than cervical cancer in women.

Vaccinating men provides an increased benefit for everyone. Fewer men with HPV mean that fewer women are exposed to the virus.

HPV vaccines can be expensive. The cost is about $360 for a series of three injections. (You are not fully protected until you have received all three injections.) Most health insurance plans cover HPV vaccination for both males and females but you should check with your insurance carrier first. If a child between the ages of 9 and 18 is underinsured, the federal program Vaccines for Children may be able to provide assistance. If you do not have insurance, your health care provider may be able to get the vaccine free for you through a patient assistance program. All major vaccine manufacturers have patient assistance programs. If you need help paying for Gardasil check out Merck Helps for assistance.