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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Last fall the FDA approved Gardisil for men to prevent genital warts resulting from human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that also has been associated with cervical cancer in women and cancers of the head and neck in both sexes. While most women have been receptive to the vaccine, some health experts expect men to be slightly more reluctant to get the vaccine. “Men should consider getting the vaccine in order to protect themselves against genital warts, but also to protect their partners,” says Dr. Judy Klein, a physician at the Indiana University Health Center. “Even if you have already had HPV, the vaccine can still be effective in protecting against other strains of the virus. However, current testing does not allow health professionals to determine which strain(s) of the virus an individual has.” The vaccine is recommended for ages 9-26, but is most effective when given before the onset of sexual activity. However, health experts have been disappointed that fewer than 40 precent of pre-adolescent females have been getting vaccinated. Side effects may include headache, fever, pain at the injection site, itching, redness, swelling and bruising.
Klein said that men may be slightly more reluctant to get the vaccine than women for several reasons:
Women typically get routine annual exams, so not only are women more accustomed to addressing their sexual health, but they are also given more opportunities to receive information about sexual health topics such as the HPV vaccine.
Men don’t have the additional fear of HPV leading to cervical cancer, and it is possible to receive treatment for genital warts.
The vaccine thus far has been poorly publicized and many men are unaware of the new vaccine and its benefits.
The HPV vaccine was approved by the FDA in 2006 for females ages 9-26. Gardasil protects against HPV strains 6 and 11, which are the most common strains that lead to genital warts, and also against strains 16 and 18, which are the most common strains that lead to cervical cancer in women. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is a viral infection that is transmitted through skin-on-skin contact. It is possible for both sexes to carry the virus while showing no signs of infection, including testing negative for HPV.
The IU Health Center provides the HPV vaccine for both men and women. For more information about the vaccine, please visit the IU Health Center Web site at http://healthcenter.indiana.edu/quicklinks/gardasil.html.
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