Gay men benefit from HPV vaccine

An Irish study done with men who have sex with men has found that vaccinations from the Human Papilloma Virus may protect them from certain forms of cancer.

A previous study suggested the only beneficiaries of the HPV vaccination are non-sexually active children, but further studies show the vaccination preventing the spread of certain cancer-causing strains of the virus. There are a total of three strains of the virus that cause cancer of which the vaccine can prevent the spread.

The study found that more than half of HIV positive gay men carry one cancer-causing strain, while less than half of HIV negative carry one. The study also found no link between rate of HPV infection between those who had anal or oral sex. Because gay men are less likely to carry all of the strains, it stands to reason that they should be vaccinated against any further exposure to HPV.

The study was released before the UK Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization where they will discuss the application of vaccination stardards and whether to include adolescent boys and gay men for HPV vaccine availability.

HPV is responsible for one-third of all throat cancers as well as causing genital and anal warts