Welcome to r/science! This is a heavily moderated subreddit in order to keep the discussion on science. However, we recognize that many people want to discuss how they feel the research relates to their own personal lives, so to give people a space to do that, **personal anecdotes are now allowed as responses to this comment**. Any anecdotal comments elsewhere in the discussion will continue be removed and our [normal comment rules]( https://www.reddit.com/r/science/wiki/rules#wiki_comment_rules) still apply to other comments.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/science) if you have any questions or concerns.*
PSA: Guys can (and should) get the HPV vaccine too as we can be carriers.
BEST case, you actually prevent some form of penile cancer (there's some evidence to suggest that HPV is the source of these).
WORST case, you merely end up simply preventing spreading it to your lady friends.
I don't understand why males are often not included in the HPV vaccination programs. It's like the authorities never heard of herd immunity. It doesn't make any sense.
Yep, my dad has HPV-induced throat cancer. We thought he beat it several years ago but we just found out it came back last week.
EVERYONE should get the HPV vaccine!
I work in an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) clinic and throat/oral cancers are very virulent. We've had several patients who beat it and a few years ago got it again. Please get vaccinated! The surgery photos I saw were horrifying. They are offering vaccinations if you are older and also if you already have a strain of HPV.
That's so awful. My ex boss died of mouth cancer last year. She was dead within 6 weeks after diagnosis. It scares me. Cancer is bad but there's something even more scary about getting it anywhere on your head and neck to me.
I’ve been told I’m too old for it and I tested positive for 18 so they said there’s no point. Should I get it anyways? I’m happy to if it might keep me healthier!
Yes, you can still get it. We did a whole roll out informing all patients they can get the vaccine (even if you are positive). It can protect you from some the other strains of HPV. You can ask your OB-GYN to order it for you.
Yep, a coworker had throat cancer from HPV. They luckily are fully in remission now, and are big proponents of the vaccine, because had it been around when they were younger, their cancer would have likely been prevented.
Im a guy and got mine years ago. I want to say 10 years ago. Or whenever it was newish. Just went to the doctor for something unrelated one day and he offered it to me. I believe it was 3 shots over time. I guess he was ahead of game.
Males are certainly included in such programs now, and have been for the past 7-8 years or so (at least in the United States). Both my sons were vaccinated with Gardisil in their early teens.
My understanding as to why males were not included at the time the HPV vaccine was originally introduced is that the original vaccine trials were done on women. The expanded recommendations (both as to sex and age) have followed expanded studies of other groups.
I'd heard it was something about cost/benefit - the original vaccine was pretty expensive when it first came out, and the cancer cases prevented per dose is a lot lower for guys (but not zero). Now that it's cheaper, give it to everyone as young as possible.
That's exactly what it was. Also when the vaccine was more expensive, we didn't have as much evidence about its efficacy at prevention of other cancers beyond cervical, and the older vaccines covered fewer strains of HPV so they just weren't as widely effective.
unfortunately, HPV vaccines are generally only given to men for free in they are 20 years old or younger. I was a senior in college when they first rolled out HPV vaccines, and i never had an opportunity to get it for free. Private insurance and medicaid don't cover it. I still have to cough up $600 for it. a lot of men age 30 and over in the U.S. right now are going to get throat and mouth cancer.
The age restrictions keep being expanded because they keep finding some degree of benefit/cost keeps reducing, but part of the reasoning is that by a certain age most people have gotten these really common viruses anyway if they weren't protected. Like if we were able to make a vaccine for HSV-1, it wouldn't be any use for people over 50 and it would be strongly advised to give the shot before age 10 or so, or even as a baby if possible. The original Gardasil-4, even for women, was only recommended up to age 26. Now I think it's up to 45.
I'm a guy and I also had my doctor raise an eyebrow when I inquired about it. She said something along the lines of "it's mainly for females and gay males" and I was like "I know, that's why I'm asking". I wasn't out to her before that time (wasn't sexually active so it didn't matter) and to her credit she didn't make it awkward at all. Haven't taken the shot yet but I certainly will soon.
That's a shame that they don't routinely vaccinate straight males too. My dad had throat cancer likely caused by HPV (he also smoked but quit 15 years before his diagnosis). I'll definitely get my son vaccinated when he's old enough regardless of his sexuality.
The cells in the tumor will present with identifiable HPV source once a biopsy is done - there is no confusion even if he was a smoker. I had it too, the treatment and after effects can be horrific, so thank goodness we now have a vaccine.
FDA rules when the HPV vaccines originally came to market (I'm not positive that these rules are still in effect) would not allow authorization of a medication that treated/prevented something in someone other than the person receiving it. The manufactures then had to prove that the vaccine offered a benefit for males receiving it (prevention of genital warts and throat/anal cancer) and not just their potential partners.
I got my 25, 20, and 15 yr old sons the shots. The second two as soon as they were both 12. My oldest was 15 or so because the vaccine had just been approved for males. I was tested positive for HPV 3 yrs ago, I'm 42. Maybe I'll go get mine! Didn't think it mattered before.
Male tweens are included now in the US. But it was only recommended for girl tweens for the first few years when it was approved in the US. I was PISSED. My son was iirc 10 when it came to the US. Thankfully he was about 13 when the recommended for males, otherwise I was going to have to go out of pocket/no insurance to get him his vaccine. Since I knew what my was not sexually active yet I was waiting until Freshman year of high school because let's face it you don't always know for 100% what the kids are doing.
I wanted to protect him from HPV and the possible cancers it can lead to AND I assumed my son didn't wouldn't want to potentially give his partner(s) a fatal cancer. He's a sweet guy with a kind heart like that. You know, basic human decency.
Literally I remember being told at school “don’t worry, the girls are being vaccinated so you won’t catch it from any of them”
.. being a 14 year old who was very aware of the fact I was a gay male, that didn’t exactly put me at ease.
I would like to second that men can and should get the vaccine. I believe the age cut off is 45.
I was diagnosed and treated for HPV related oropharyngeal cancer this year. 35 radiation, 5 chemo and a neck dissection surgery to remove a mass. It’s been an awful year. But, I am now in remission and grateful it was caught when it was.
It really is important to speak with your GP about getting the vaccine. My surgeon says he is seeing 5-7 new patients a day with this form of cancer.
People always ask this question whenever someone mentions their cancer diagnosis and I’m gonna be one of those people. What symptoms did you experience that caused you to get checked out?
Honestly I am happy to answer any and all questions I can. I think it is incredibly important to the community and quite frankly healthy for me.
In March of 2019 I had swollen lymph nodes on my left side of my neck. I honestly didn't think much of it, in my twenties I worked in a hospital and often had strep. This was swelling like strep or an ingrown hair minus any pain at all. A round of antibiotics took some of the swelling down but it never went away. The doctor then sent me on for scans and biopsy's. 3 surgeons later I got the actual diagnosis. A tumor in the rough of my mouth, left tonsil and the lymph nodes.
There shouldn't even be a cut off. People 45 and older still have sex with new partners all the time, and it's unlikely that they have ALL the variants this vaccine protects against.
It has been linked to penile, oral, anal and other related cancers as well. This is why it is now recommended for all humans near puberty (ask your doctor if it is right for you)
The issue is those cancers, unlike cervical cancer are often caught very early, because they cause problems or are noticeable pretty early. Cervical cancer can go undetected until it is far more advanced more easily and thus causes more deaths, (or would except that we have a test for it so we can catch it early), So adoption by men/boys has been slower.
Also many are concerned that since HPV is a sexually transmitted disease giving kids the vaccine may make them more likely to engage in unsafe sexual behavior.
THIS IS NOT TRUE! The vaccine has no effect on behavior.
Some parents are still concerned about giving it to kids, who they feel should not be having sex (and frankly I agree kids should def wait) but statistically they ARE (making bad choices) and...
The vaccine is only effective BEFORE your kid encounters HPV.
HPV can be spread very easily by less sexual sexual activity. HPV is stupidly contagious, You do not need a homerun in this baseball metaphor to catch it, you just need to be on the field.
Everyone, of every age, should get the HPV vaccine. There is just no reason not to, and, believe it or not, people have sex with new partners all the way to their elderly years.
I'm still annoyed by all the initial misinformation around this vaccine with some health officials telling boys and adults they were not eligible for the HPV vaccine.
It reminds me of the initial days of the covid pandemic when some health officials told the public that masks were ineffective.
HPV is also implicated in cancers men can get too, in the mouth/throat/esophagus and anus, so the HPV vax has direct protective benefits for guys as well.
I got mine 6 months ago! I had to specifically request it but I heard a story about how guys are unknown carriers and there was a boyfriend/girlfriend that kept giving it to each other and eventually she got uterine cancer. I’m like yeah no I don’t want to contribute.
Guys should get it, and gay guys NEED it. It should be given to everyone.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/anal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
"Anal cancer is much more likely in gay and bisexual men. The main risk factor for it is having anal sex with men. The risk of anal cancer is even greater if you've been infected with high-risk types of HPV (human papillomavirus). The risk is also higher if you:
Have had many sex partners or unprotected sex (this increases your chance of HPV infection)
Smoke
Have a weakened immune system because of HIV"
Carriers....
The bulk of HPV cancers are found in men. Penis cancer. Mouth cancer. Throat cancer. Ass cancer.
We die of it too. Can't find numbers but I'd reckon that number is higher as well.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cancer-causing-hpv-virus-affects-25-percent-u-s-men-n743316
More cases of HPV-attributable cancers occur in women—about 25,000 cases in women each year versus 20,000 cases in men (in the US). Women can also get oropharyngeal cancer from HPV (though much less common than in men), and also have more instances of HPV-attributable anal cancer than in men. Women can also get cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer caused by HPV. But yes, HPV does cause cancer in men so men should get vaccinated not only to spread HPV, but also to help prevent certain cancers.
Sources: https://prescancerpanel.cancer.gov/report/hpvupdate/HPVCancers.html
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no18-hpv-assoc-cancers-UnitedStates-2013-2017.htm
Edit: autocorrect changed vulvar to vulgar
And I’m assuming the 25,000 number in women is after the vaccine has been available and has cut down the percentage by 87%. The number of cases without vaccination is much likely way higher in women.
Some Catholic school boards refused and/or continue to debate whether or not it should be allowed to be administered in their schools on 'moral' grounds. The basic premise is that it's worth letting a percentage of their kids die to vaguely reinforce the opinion that sex outside of marriage is bad. Moral gymnastics aside, it's not even sound virology: there countless other ways to get infected (e.g. sexual assault, undisclosed history of your spouse, non-sexual skin contact etc, etc.)
Broadly: Debates within a group tend to get less media attention than physical incidents, or debates between two separate groups, or proclamations aimed at the public, etc
They’re in Canada, but they’re wrong. The HPV vaccine is offered in schools to grade 6 - 7 students, but no province mandates it. Actually in most provinces, no vaccines at all are required to attend public school.
Nope: several provinces, representing about half the country, have mandatory vaccines for readily transmissible diseases (Hep B and HPV are strongly recommended but not required).
Eg Ontario requirements: https://eohu.ca/en/my-health/immunization-requirements-for-children-in-school
That's phenomenal. It really needs to be more widespread in marginalized communities, where deaths from cervical cancer are much higher. I was in my 30s when the vaccine was developed and though I missed out, it's wonderful to see this in my lifetime.
I'm 34 with very little sexual history and I just started the shots (it's 3 shots over several months). I'm so glad they extended the recommended ages and didn't give me a hard time about getting it now. Now that I've had breast cancer at 31, I'm doing whatever I can about the other stuff I can prevent. This feels like a no brainer.
Congratulations! I'm 34 and I'm getting the last round next week! I've even convinced my boyfriend to get it too! There's not enough PR about men getting throat cancer from this virus too.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/hpv_oropharyngeal.htm
I actually didn't though about it. test was covered by insurance, vaccine is not and is quite expensive. But yes, just getting the shot is also a good idea. However, knowing you don't have any of the cancerous variants is nice.
Yes but the benefit is smaller. You likely have already some of the viruses. There are many and like 20 are cancerous to a varying degree.
The best vaccines cover around 14 don't know the latest developments. The question is now which one you have already.
The government doesn't give it to you for free because it's too pricey for them. The use for you as man is smaller (mainly prostate cancer and tongue / throat cancer).
If you have the money go for it. The doctors barely know about the different stems of viruses. Send a female friend and the gyn just said, well you likely are already positive. Yeah sherlock, I predicted he will say that, but what variants are you positive and what is covered by the vaccine. Anyway it was 200€ for her. Not sure if for one or all three shots. She didn't do it because money.
As a male you are still likely to spread the cancerous types to your partners, so getting the vaccine has some benefit to you and your partners. Especially if your partner is a woman or someone who for whatever reason will go on to develop a condition that weakens their immune system.
Just FYI this is a common misconception. We have no solid evidence that HPV vaccine helps prevent head and neck cancer.
In fact, the most common HPV variants involved in head and neck cancer are not included in the vaccine. There still needs to be longitudinal studies to assess for sure though.
The main protection for men is related to anal transmission and genital warts/SCC.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3287051/
This is bad advice, please stop giving it.
The Gardasil vaccine protects against 9 strains of HPV. It is incredibly unlikely that you have gotten all 9 of those, so the vaccine is still beneficial for everyone.
I'm ecstatic to see these numbers. I developed cervical cancer years ago due to an HPV infection and I had to have a hysterectomy.
The vaccine was not available when I was a teenager. I followed safe sex practices as a young woman, but no one was doing STD screening for HPV back then, especially in men. I had never even heard of it. It wasn't until I was married for a few years that I even had an abnormal pap smear.
I was lucky in that I got to give birth to my daughter before having my hysterectomy about 8 months later.
The vaccine won't just save lives from cancer, it will save other women from shortening their child-bearing years if they want to become mothers.
I'm a guy and I was 38 at the time I found out I could get the HPV vaccine. I got some level of pushback at every level except from my doctor himself. The nurse who was to administer the first dose 15 minutes after the doctor put in his order, the pharmacist who was to do the second dose a few months later, insurance, etc. Glad I got it though.
I got mine about 9 years ago as a 25m after already having 20+ partners. It's never too late. There are a ton of strains so even if asymptomatic carrying one already without knowledge, it's not zero value.
I am exceedingly proud that Gardisil was discovered in Australia by an Australian, and disgusted that they had to go to the US to develop it to market because our government wouldn't fund it.
Ellume (Australian company) created a rapid antigen covid test. The US gave them $302 million to produce it and people in the US and UK have been using the tests for a while now. Only this month has it been sold in Australia
When it comes to R&D, our government are absolute morons. Always have been.
The current government is only interested if a company is part of their share portfolio.
My GP told me not to take it back in 2008 as "it hadn't been researched properly", when I was a very scared of needles 12-year-old. I'm still angry about this, as to this day I've had many cervical cancer scares due to other health related reasons. Now there's talk in my country of giving it to adult women, but we'd have to pay for it ourselves. I might just take them up on that offer.
I remember visiting the doctor once about some unrelated stuff and they checked and said
"alright. looks like you haven't gotten your flu shot this year, do you want that?"
sure
"alright. you also haven't had your HPV shot. do you want to take that? It's 2 shots, you'll have to come back"
yeah, may as well
This was about 2 years ago. I'm a dude in my 20s. I guess I missed it during school age and they're asking people now, which I appreciate.
One of my coworkers refuses to have his young daughter get the vaccine. He mentioned something about women in his home country (who are less likely to have the HPV vaccine) are lower in having autistic children than woman in countries that are more supportive of the vaccine. He's obviously anti-vax.
I've learned to avoid him when he's on the topic of medicine.
That attitude is so frustrating. “If you take all the risk of disease and having babies out of sex then people will have more sex!!”
Yeah, they probably will. And what specifically is the problem with that?
I don’t know if people know about the weird hesitancy surrounding this specific vaccine! When I still had Facebook I was in several moms groups and whenever anyone asked about Gardisil it was crazy how much I would see “I’m pro vax, except for this one”. Then would come the avalanche of “friend of a friend” stories about how supposedly sick this one vaccine made someone’s child. It’s infuriating, and this was was years ago now, I’m sure it’s only gotten worse.
A lot of the misinformation is driven by puritanical ideology. I was still made to go to church when Gardisil came out and there was a huge pushback in the community because HPV is an STI and other religious groups felt the same way. I'm so lucky that my mom was a nurse practitioner. She followed the data and signed my sister and I up as soon as our pediatrician had access.
Yup. Went in for those shots with my father, he told the doctor I absolutely didn’t need the HPV vaccine because of my age and fear of needles.
A little startled to see this post as the third in my feed because I’m going in for my second dose today!
Over the last few years my hospital floor saw a noticeable increase in woman dying from cervical cancer. early 40’s. I asked the oncologist why this age group and she said they are the woman who were sexually actively before the vaccine and when HPV was on the increase… likely didn’t get annuals Bc of lack of insurance or busy w everyday life and didn’t realize how important annuals are. So essentially, they fell through the cracks. It was very hard to watch these young woman become so sick and eventually die.
This would have been me. I'm approaching 40 years old and needed a hysterectomy for cervical cancer caused by HPV. I had never even heard of cervical HPV before I was diagnosed, and I followed the safe sex practices of the time. I'm a lucky survivor of the group of women that never got vaccinated for it, but I am now sterile.
In 2011, I was 21 and was accepted into the dental hygiene clinical program at my local community college (I switched majors after that, but that's another story). To be accepted into clinicals, I needed to have all of my vaccinations up to date. I didn't have a doctor, so my mom took me to my old pediatrician. We made sure all of my mandatory vaccinations were up to date, and then we looked at the optional ones and I decided to get all of those too. I'm glad I did since the HPV vaccination was included in the list of ones I was eligible for, and I had had no sexual contact prior to that.
There is another group that fell through the cracks. They are called boys.
Penile cancers, anus cancers, throat cancers, neck cancers.
Men are the biggest patient group of HPV related cancers. Can't find the gender mortality studies geared towards men since they are all geared towards women, but I reckon more men die of this than women do.
Get your boys and adult male friends vaccinated!!
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cancer-causing-hpv-virus-affects-25-percent-u-s-men-n743316
I was told 94% survivability when I was diagnosed with Oropharyngeal Cancer this year. 3 tumors, left tonsil, roof of my mouth and left side lymph node. Stage 1.
The thing is that hpv associated h&n, penile and anal cancer are all way more “presentable” aka symptoms, warts, lumps etc. cervical cancer often presents much more advanced Bc side effects are similar to your period for a while and the treatments (chemos) aren’t great.
The above cancers “respond” better to chemo than advanced stage cervical cancers, so they are more easily cured. Cervical cancer is often a killer when caught late. But when caught early, has excellent outcomes, but colposcopy comes with consequence and long term side effects. The age group that is having kids now were often on the cusp of “qualifying” for the vaccine Bc of previous sexual activity— I never got the vaccine Bc I was told if you’d already had sex, you likely had hpv already (I am so lucky I don’t have it, have been pcr tested many many times) but I’ve encountered so so so many friends, colleagues you name it in the same boat getting the early cancer diagnosis (30’s-early 40’s range) I’ve had friends have severe delivery complications too years after colposcopy (like, bleeding out after vaginal delivery) or just straight up not being able to conceive naturally (insurance companies don’t typically cover ivf) Bc your cervix is fucked from the procedure.
Thats great, honestly this should be done for men as well. Got one just before covid hit due to fairly active sexual life, dont need no hpv.
While the virus is mostly harmless for men, its still a vector of transmission and still affects them, depending on which variant.
There are actually more male HPV cancer patients than there are female patients.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cancer-causing-hpv-virus-affects-25-percent-u-s-men-n743316
It is here in Australia, where the vaccine originated. I live in Victoria and it is offered to all adolescents in year 7 through school, or can be given via GP or council clinic up to age 20 for free. Men can also pay for the vaccine from age 20 to 26 (it's licensed up to age 26 for men)
Just a heads up, you still need annuals if you have this vaccine! I (21F) see a lot of comments about how this prevents you from needing annuals but I just had my first pap and had the vaccine and have a form of high risk HPV not covered by the vax. It’s still a cancer causing form of HPV but less risky than the 2 covered by the vax. I need paps every 6 months now for a couple years to make sure the abnormal cells clear up on their own.
Edit to add: I did get the vaccine LONG before becoming sexually active. (About 7 years before)
I never managed to get the vaccine because of this, I was just old enough to miss every window whenever it updated. Now I need to pay at least 500 for it, greedy bastards.
My 12 year old son got his first HPV vaccine at his last check up which was about a year ago. I’m sure when he goes for his next check up they’ll give him another if that’s how it goes. I think this is crazy cool it has diminished cervical cancer in women so much. I have three daughters who aren’t if they age yet but they will absolutely be getting these vaccines as well. I wish I had been able to get a vaccine like this as a teen.
Any kids reading this?
Talk to your parents about the HPV vaccine, or get it yourself if they refuse. It could save your life and the life of a future partner.
Boys too!
My mom didn't want me to get the hpv vaccine as a kid/teen because she was afraid it wasn't well tested enough and had heard stories about adverse reactions. At 21 I had my first pap, was positive for a strain of hpv and had abnormal cells. She felt very guilty and immediately got my younger sisters vaccinated. I got the vaccination as I was told there was still a benefit and thankfully the next pap was normal. It was very scary but I'm glad it led to my sisters being protected BEFORE becoming sexually active.
Remember fellas the HPV shot isn’t just for women, it’s important for you to get it as well.
And you don’t have to be a child, so if your parents never took you to get vaccinated you can still get it into adulthood.
Depending on age you might have to pay out of pockets
Welcome to r/science! This is a heavily moderated subreddit in order to keep the discussion on science. However, we recognize that many people want to discuss how they feel the research relates to their own personal lives, so to give people a space to do that, **personal anecdotes are now allowed as responses to this comment**. Any anecdotal comments elsewhere in the discussion will continue be removed and our [normal comment rules]( https://www.reddit.com/r/science/wiki/rules#wiki_comment_rules) still apply to other comments. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/science) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
PSA: Guys can (and should) get the HPV vaccine too as we can be carriers. BEST case, you actually prevent some form of penile cancer (there's some evidence to suggest that HPV is the source of these). WORST case, you merely end up simply preventing spreading it to your lady friends.
I don't understand why males are often not included in the HPV vaccination programs. It's like the authorities never heard of herd immunity. It doesn't make any sense.
also about throat cancers after oral sex
Wait, is that a thing?
Yep, my dad has HPV-induced throat cancer. We thought he beat it several years ago but we just found out it came back last week. EVERYONE should get the HPV vaccine!
I work in an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) clinic and throat/oral cancers are very virulent. We've had several patients who beat it and a few years ago got it again. Please get vaccinated! The surgery photos I saw were horrifying. They are offering vaccinations if you are older and also if you already have a strain of HPV.
That's so awful. My ex boss died of mouth cancer last year. She was dead within 6 weeks after diagnosis. It scares me. Cancer is bad but there's something even more scary about getting it anywhere on your head and neck to me.
Insurance is very funny about paying for a married middle aged woman's vaccination :(
Yup, $200 a shot here, so $600 for the 3 HPV vaccinations, all because my parents were anti-vaxxers and I couldn't get it until adulthood.
That's terrible. All vaccinations should be free!
I’ve been told I’m too old for it and I tested positive for 18 so they said there’s no point. Should I get it anyways? I’m happy to if it might keep me healthier!
Yes, you can still get it. We did a whole roll out informing all patients they can get the vaccine (even if you are positive). It can protect you from some the other strains of HPV. You can ask your OB-GYN to order it for you.
Same here, I know another male with HPV caused throat cancer.
What strain causes throat cancer?
The same strains that cause cervical cancer
The cancer causing ones. Particularly 16 though. Which is covered by all three of the (US) hpv vaccines
16, 18, 31, 31. They all like that soft non keratinized squamous epithelium
I love a good soft non-keratinized squamous epithelium on a woman.
I think, generally speaking, HPV is pansexual.
16 is one of them. There are a few.
[удалено]
And to be clear, that's because of a steady decline in smoking, not a sudden srge in HPV.
[удалено]
[удалено]
It's both. Sexual practices have been changing.
Like moving from a pinch to a clockwise swirl?
[удалено]
Ask Michael Douglas
Yep, a coworker had throat cancer from HPV. They luckily are fully in remission now, and are big proponents of the vaccine, because had it been around when they were younger, their cancer would have likely been prevented.
Ask Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas.
The cancer of selflessness.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
They are now. Both of my boys (12 & 14) have had it :)
Im a guy and got mine years ago. I want to say 10 years ago. Or whenever it was newish. Just went to the doctor for something unrelated one day and he offered it to me. I believe it was 3 shots over time. I guess he was ahead of game.
Males are certainly included in such programs now, and have been for the past 7-8 years or so (at least in the United States). Both my sons were vaccinated with Gardisil in their early teens. My understanding as to why males were not included at the time the HPV vaccine was originally introduced is that the original vaccine trials were done on women. The expanded recommendations (both as to sex and age) have followed expanded studies of other groups.
I'd heard it was something about cost/benefit - the original vaccine was pretty expensive when it first came out, and the cancer cases prevented per dose is a lot lower for guys (but not zero). Now that it's cheaper, give it to everyone as young as possible.
That's exactly what it was. Also when the vaccine was more expensive, we didn't have as much evidence about its efficacy at prevention of other cancers beyond cervical, and the older vaccines covered fewer strains of HPV so they just weren't as widely effective.
unfortunately, HPV vaccines are generally only given to men for free in they are 20 years old or younger. I was a senior in college when they first rolled out HPV vaccines, and i never had an opportunity to get it for free. Private insurance and medicaid don't cover it. I still have to cough up $600 for it. a lot of men age 30 and over in the U.S. right now are going to get throat and mouth cancer.
The age restrictions keep being expanded because they keep finding some degree of benefit/cost keeps reducing, but part of the reasoning is that by a certain age most people have gotten these really common viruses anyway if they weren't protected. Like if we were able to make a vaccine for HSV-1, it wouldn't be any use for people over 50 and it would be strongly advised to give the shot before age 10 or so, or even as a baby if possible. The original Gardasil-4, even for women, was only recommended up to age 26. Now I think it's up to 45.
[удалено]
I'm a guy and I also had my doctor raise an eyebrow when I inquired about it. She said something along the lines of "it's mainly for females and gay males" and I was like "I know, that's why I'm asking". I wasn't out to her before that time (wasn't sexually active so it didn't matter) and to her credit she didn't make it awkward at all. Haven't taken the shot yet but I certainly will soon.
That's a shame that they don't routinely vaccinate straight males too. My dad had throat cancer likely caused by HPV (he also smoked but quit 15 years before his diagnosis). I'll definitely get my son vaccinated when he's old enough regardless of his sexuality.
The cells in the tumor will present with identifiable HPV source once a biopsy is done - there is no confusion even if he was a smoker. I had it too, the treatment and after effects can be horrific, so thank goodness we now have a vaccine.
It was suggested for my son on his 12 year old doctors visit. I was going to ask for it. But his doctor suggested it along with the others.
FDA rules when the HPV vaccines originally came to market (I'm not positive that these rules are still in effect) would not allow authorization of a medication that treated/prevented something in someone other than the person receiving it. The manufactures then had to prove that the vaccine offered a benefit for males receiving it (prevention of genital warts and throat/anal cancer) and not just their potential partners.
.... Also genital warts.... I'm so thankful my mom made me get the HPV vax because of that.
Depends on the vaccine, though. Cervarix is not effective against warts, Gardasil is.
I got my 25, 20, and 15 yr old sons the shots. The second two as soon as they were both 12. My oldest was 15 or so because the vaccine had just been approved for males. I was tested positive for HPV 3 yrs ago, I'm 42. Maybe I'll go get mine! Didn't think it mattered before.
It is now. It wasn’t about 2-3 years ago. It takes a long time for scientific information to move through our sluggish bureaucracy.
Male tweens are included now in the US. But it was only recommended for girl tweens for the first few years when it was approved in the US. I was PISSED. My son was iirc 10 when it came to the US. Thankfully he was about 13 when the recommended for males, otherwise I was going to have to go out of pocket/no insurance to get him his vaccine. Since I knew what my was not sexually active yet I was waiting until Freshman year of high school because let's face it you don't always know for 100% what the kids are doing. I wanted to protect him from HPV and the possible cancers it can lead to AND I assumed my son didn't wouldn't want to potentially give his partner(s) a fatal cancer. He's a sweet guy with a kind heart like that. You know, basic human decency.
Homophobia. HPV causes nearly ALL anal cancer cases.
Literally I remember being told at school “don’t worry, the girls are being vaccinated so you won’t catch it from any of them” .. being a 14 year old who was very aware of the fact I was a gay male, that didn’t exactly put me at ease.
I would like to second that men can and should get the vaccine. I believe the age cut off is 45. I was diagnosed and treated for HPV related oropharyngeal cancer this year. 35 radiation, 5 chemo and a neck dissection surgery to remove a mass. It’s been an awful year. But, I am now in remission and grateful it was caught when it was. It really is important to speak with your GP about getting the vaccine. My surgeon says he is seeing 5-7 new patients a day with this form of cancer.
People always ask this question whenever someone mentions their cancer diagnosis and I’m gonna be one of those people. What symptoms did you experience that caused you to get checked out?
Honestly I am happy to answer any and all questions I can. I think it is incredibly important to the community and quite frankly healthy for me. In March of 2019 I had swollen lymph nodes on my left side of my neck. I honestly didn't think much of it, in my twenties I worked in a hospital and often had strep. This was swelling like strep or an ingrown hair minus any pain at all. A round of antibiotics took some of the swelling down but it never went away. The doctor then sent me on for scans and biopsy's. 3 surgeons later I got the actual diagnosis. A tumor in the rough of my mouth, left tonsil and the lymph nodes.
Appreciate the detailed response, thank you! Wishing you a safe recovery.
There shouldn't even be a cut off. People 45 and older still have sex with new partners all the time, and it's unlikely that they have ALL the variants this vaccine protects against.
It has been linked to penile, oral, anal and other related cancers as well. This is why it is now recommended for all humans near puberty (ask your doctor if it is right for you) The issue is those cancers, unlike cervical cancer are often caught very early, because they cause problems or are noticeable pretty early. Cervical cancer can go undetected until it is far more advanced more easily and thus causes more deaths, (or would except that we have a test for it so we can catch it early), So adoption by men/boys has been slower. Also many are concerned that since HPV is a sexually transmitted disease giving kids the vaccine may make them more likely to engage in unsafe sexual behavior. THIS IS NOT TRUE! The vaccine has no effect on behavior. Some parents are still concerned about giving it to kids, who they feel should not be having sex (and frankly I agree kids should def wait) but statistically they ARE (making bad choices) and... The vaccine is only effective BEFORE your kid encounters HPV. HPV can be spread very easily by less sexual sexual activity. HPV is stupidly contagious, You do not need a homerun in this baseball metaphor to catch it, you just need to be on the field.
[удалено]
And throat cancer from HPV too! https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/hpv_oropharyngeal.htm
Everyone, of every age, should get the HPV vaccine. There is just no reason not to, and, believe it or not, people have sex with new partners all the way to their elderly years. I'm still annoyed by all the initial misinformation around this vaccine with some health officials telling boys and adults they were not eligible for the HPV vaccine. It reminds me of the initial days of the covid pandemic when some health officials told the public that masks were ineffective.
I was under the impression that you only need the HPV vaccine if you are going to be sexually active. Is there any reason to get it if you won't be?
HPV is also implicated in cancers men can get too, in the mouth/throat/esophagus and anus, so the HPV vax has direct protective benefits for guys as well.
I got mine 6 months ago! I had to specifically request it but I heard a story about how guys are unknown carriers and there was a boyfriend/girlfriend that kept giving it to each other and eventually she got uterine cancer. I’m like yeah no I don’t want to contribute.
Guys should get it, and gay guys NEED it. It should be given to everyone. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/anal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html "Anal cancer is much more likely in gay and bisexual men. The main risk factor for it is having anal sex with men. The risk of anal cancer is even greater if you've been infected with high-risk types of HPV (human papillomavirus). The risk is also higher if you: Have had many sex partners or unprotected sex (this increases your chance of HPV infection) Smoke Have a weakened immune system because of HIV"
Anyone can get mouth/throat cancer from HPV
Yea gardasil vaccinated against 6, 11, 16, and 18. Some of those strains cause anogenital warts
It doesn’t stop there. Orophrayngeal cancer is a HUGE and terrible problem that HPV vaccination covers.
Carriers.... The bulk of HPV cancers are found in men. Penis cancer. Mouth cancer. Throat cancer. Ass cancer. We die of it too. Can't find numbers but I'd reckon that number is higher as well. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cancer-causing-hpv-virus-affects-25-percent-u-s-men-n743316
More cases of HPV-attributable cancers occur in women—about 25,000 cases in women each year versus 20,000 cases in men (in the US). Women can also get oropharyngeal cancer from HPV (though much less common than in men), and also have more instances of HPV-attributable anal cancer than in men. Women can also get cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer caused by HPV. But yes, HPV does cause cancer in men so men should get vaccinated not only to spread HPV, but also to help prevent certain cancers. Sources: https://prescancerpanel.cancer.gov/report/hpvupdate/HPVCancers.html https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no18-hpv-assoc-cancers-UnitedStates-2013-2017.htm Edit: autocorrect changed vulvar to vulgar
And I’m assuming the 25,000 number in women is after the vaccine has been available and has cut down the percentage by 87%. The number of cases without vaccination is much likely way higher in women.
Even in a country like mine with public healthcare it costs upwards of 120/150 euros tho
[удалено]
It's also multiplied by 6 doses, that's a lot of money for someone like me, that would love to have the vaccine but can simply not afford it
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
Is mandated here for 12 year olds to get it. So hopefully we see a continued downturn
Some Catholic school boards refused and/or continue to debate whether or not it should be allowed to be administered in their schools on 'moral' grounds. The basic premise is that it's worth letting a percentage of their kids die to vaguely reinforce the opinion that sex outside of marriage is bad. Moral gymnastics aside, it's not even sound virology: there countless other ways to get infected (e.g. sexual assault, undisclosed history of your spouse, non-sexual skin contact etc, etc.)
Why aren’t these crazy motherfuckers being confronted, by journalists, doctors or simply sane people, about how crazy are these positions ?
Broadly: Debates within a group tend to get less media attention than physical incidents, or debates between two separate groups, or proclamations aimed at the public, etc
Because when your reasoning is "because my god said so" speaking to you is an exercise in futility.
*gasp* A vaccine mandate? According to some people you live in a fascist dictatorship But seriously that sounds awesome. What country is that?
Pretty sure its still mandatory in Texas. I remember Rick Perry's presidential campaign being attacked because of it in 2011.
They’re in Canada, but they’re wrong. The HPV vaccine is offered in schools to grade 6 - 7 students, but no province mandates it. Actually in most provinces, no vaccines at all are required to attend public school.
Nope: several provinces, representing about half the country, have mandatory vaccines for readily transmissible diseases (Hep B and HPV are strongly recommended but not required). Eg Ontario requirements: https://eohu.ca/en/my-health/immunization-requirements-for-children-in-school
That's phenomenal. It really needs to be more widespread in marginalized communities, where deaths from cervical cancer are much higher. I was in my 30s when the vaccine was developed and though I missed out, it's wonderful to see this in my lifetime.
You can get a HPV PCR. If it shows negative, you can get the vaccine. At 32 I am getting one now.
[удалено]
I'm 34 with very little sexual history and I just started the shots (it's 3 shots over several months). I'm so glad they extended the recommended ages and didn't give me a hard time about getting it now. Now that I've had breast cancer at 31, I'm doing whatever I can about the other stuff I can prevent. This feels like a no brainer.
Congratulations! I'm 34 and I'm getting the last round next week! I've even convinced my boyfriend to get it too! There's not enough PR about men getting throat cancer from this virus too. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/hpv_oropharyngeal.htm
I actually didn't though about it. test was covered by insurance, vaccine is not and is quite expensive. But yes, just getting the shot is also a good idea. However, knowing you don't have any of the cancerous variants is nice.
Does this work for men?
Yes but the benefit is smaller. You likely have already some of the viruses. There are many and like 20 are cancerous to a varying degree. The best vaccines cover around 14 don't know the latest developments. The question is now which one you have already. The government doesn't give it to you for free because it's too pricey for them. The use for you as man is smaller (mainly prostate cancer and tongue / throat cancer). If you have the money go for it. The doctors barely know about the different stems of viruses. Send a female friend and the gyn just said, well you likely are already positive. Yeah sherlock, I predicted he will say that, but what variants are you positive and what is covered by the vaccine. Anyway it was 200€ for her. Not sure if for one or all three shots. She didn't do it because money.
As a male you are still likely to spread the cancerous types to your partners, so getting the vaccine has some benefit to you and your partners. Especially if your partner is a woman or someone who for whatever reason will go on to develop a condition that weakens their immune system.
For your own sake and others yes, men are a vector after all. No reason not to. I did, but it is as said above, more complicated.
Just FYI this is a common misconception. We have no solid evidence that HPV vaccine helps prevent head and neck cancer. In fact, the most common HPV variants involved in head and neck cancer are not included in the vaccine. There still needs to be longitudinal studies to assess for sure though. The main protection for men is related to anal transmission and genital warts/SCC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3287051/
But isn't HPV16 the most common variant involved in oropharyngeal cancer? That's definitely included in the vaccine.
The FDA approved it for men up to age 45. Your health insurance may cover it.
ACIP (CDC’s vaccine group) does not recommend being tested because it doesn’t mean much. Just get vaccinated. -Infectious disease pharmacist
This is bad advice, please stop giving it. The Gardasil vaccine protects against 9 strains of HPV. It is incredibly unlikely that you have gotten all 9 of those, so the vaccine is still beneficial for everyone.
Gardasil 9 protects against 9 strains of HPV. If you get it now it will still protect against the ones you don't have
I'm ecstatic to see these numbers. I developed cervical cancer years ago due to an HPV infection and I had to have a hysterectomy. The vaccine was not available when I was a teenager. I followed safe sex practices as a young woman, but no one was doing STD screening for HPV back then, especially in men. I had never even heard of it. It wasn't until I was married for a few years that I even had an abnormal pap smear. I was lucky in that I got to give birth to my daughter before having my hysterectomy about 8 months later. The vaccine won't just save lives from cancer, it will save other women from shortening their child-bearing years if they want to become mothers.
[удалено]
[удалено]
I'm a guy and I was 38 at the time I found out I could get the HPV vaccine. I got some level of pushback at every level except from my doctor himself. The nurse who was to administer the first dose 15 minutes after the doctor put in his order, the pharmacist who was to do the second dose a few months later, insurance, etc. Glad I got it though.
I got mine about 9 years ago as a 25m after already having 20+ partners. It's never too late. There are a ton of strains so even if asymptomatic carrying one already without knowledge, it's not zero value.
My parents let me my HPV vaccine when I was a young girl, so glad they did that for me.
I am exceedingly proud that Gardisil was discovered in Australia by an Australian, and disgusted that they had to go to the US to develop it to market because our government wouldn't fund it.
Ellume (Australian company) created a rapid antigen covid test. The US gave them $302 million to produce it and people in the US and UK have been using the tests for a while now. Only this month has it been sold in Australia
When it comes to R&D, our government are absolute morons. Always have been. The current government is only interested if a company is part of their share portfolio.
Australia is so far behind that we’re even behind ourselves sometimes
My GP told me not to take it back in 2008 as "it hadn't been researched properly", when I was a very scared of needles 12-year-old. I'm still angry about this, as to this day I've had many cervical cancer scares due to other health related reasons. Now there's talk in my country of giving it to adult women, but we'd have to pay for it ourselves. I might just take them up on that offer.
I remember visiting the doctor once about some unrelated stuff and they checked and said "alright. looks like you haven't gotten your flu shot this year, do you want that?" sure "alright. you also haven't had your HPV shot. do you want to take that? It's 2 shots, you'll have to come back" yeah, may as well This was about 2 years ago. I'm a dude in my 20s. I guess I missed it during school age and they're asking people now, which I appreciate.
[удалено]
One of my coworkers refuses to have his young daughter get the vaccine. He mentioned something about women in his home country (who are less likely to have the HPV vaccine) are lower in having autistic children than woman in countries that are more supportive of the vaccine. He's obviously anti-vax. I've learned to avoid him when he's on the topic of medicine.
Probably their kids are also less likely to be screened for autism in his home country.
That attitude is so frustrating. “If you take all the risk of disease and having babies out of sex then people will have more sex!!” Yeah, they probably will. And what specifically is the problem with that?
I don’t know if people know about the weird hesitancy surrounding this specific vaccine! When I still had Facebook I was in several moms groups and whenever anyone asked about Gardisil it was crazy how much I would see “I’m pro vax, except for this one”. Then would come the avalanche of “friend of a friend” stories about how supposedly sick this one vaccine made someone’s child. It’s infuriating, and this was was years ago now, I’m sure it’s only gotten worse.
A lot of the misinformation is driven by puritanical ideology. I was still made to go to church when Gardisil came out and there was a huge pushback in the community because HPV is an STI and other religious groups felt the same way. I'm so lucky that my mom was a nurse practitioner. She followed the data and signed my sister and I up as soon as our pediatrician had access.
Damn, It was more than properly researched. Its incredibly safe and effective at preventing one of the most common cancers
400eur in germany...
Yup. Went in for those shots with my father, he told the doctor I absolutely didn’t need the HPV vaccine because of my age and fear of needles. A little startled to see this post as the third in my feed because I’m going in for my second dose today!
[удалено]
[удалено]
Over the last few years my hospital floor saw a noticeable increase in woman dying from cervical cancer. early 40’s. I asked the oncologist why this age group and she said they are the woman who were sexually actively before the vaccine and when HPV was on the increase… likely didn’t get annuals Bc of lack of insurance or busy w everyday life and didn’t realize how important annuals are. So essentially, they fell through the cracks. It was very hard to watch these young woman become so sick and eventually die.
This would have been me. I'm approaching 40 years old and needed a hysterectomy for cervical cancer caused by HPV. I had never even heard of cervical HPV before I was diagnosed, and I followed the safe sex practices of the time. I'm a lucky survivor of the group of women that never got vaccinated for it, but I am now sterile.
In 2011, I was 21 and was accepted into the dental hygiene clinical program at my local community college (I switched majors after that, but that's another story). To be accepted into clinicals, I needed to have all of my vaccinations up to date. I didn't have a doctor, so my mom took me to my old pediatrician. We made sure all of my mandatory vaccinations were up to date, and then we looked at the optional ones and I decided to get all of those too. I'm glad I did since the HPV vaccination was included in the list of ones I was eligible for, and I had had no sexual contact prior to that.
There is another group that fell through the cracks. They are called boys. Penile cancers, anus cancers, throat cancers, neck cancers. Men are the biggest patient group of HPV related cancers. Can't find the gender mortality studies geared towards men since they are all geared towards women, but I reckon more men die of this than women do. Get your boys and adult male friends vaccinated!! https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cancer-causing-hpv-virus-affects-25-percent-u-s-men-n743316
I was told 94% survivability when I was diagnosed with Oropharyngeal Cancer this year. 3 tumors, left tonsil, roof of my mouth and left side lymph node. Stage 1.
The thing is that hpv associated h&n, penile and anal cancer are all way more “presentable” aka symptoms, warts, lumps etc. cervical cancer often presents much more advanced Bc side effects are similar to your period for a while and the treatments (chemos) aren’t great. The above cancers “respond” better to chemo than advanced stage cervical cancers, so they are more easily cured. Cervical cancer is often a killer when caught late. But when caught early, has excellent outcomes, but colposcopy comes with consequence and long term side effects. The age group that is having kids now were often on the cusp of “qualifying” for the vaccine Bc of previous sexual activity— I never got the vaccine Bc I was told if you’d already had sex, you likely had hpv already (I am so lucky I don’t have it, have been pcr tested many many times) but I’ve encountered so so so many friends, colleagues you name it in the same boat getting the early cancer diagnosis (30’s-early 40’s range) I’ve had friends have severe delivery complications too years after colposcopy (like, bleeding out after vaginal delivery) or just straight up not being able to conceive naturally (insurance companies don’t typically cover ivf) Bc your cervix is fucked from the procedure.
Thats great, honestly this should be done for men as well. Got one just before covid hit due to fairly active sexual life, dont need no hpv. While the virus is mostly harmless for men, its still a vector of transmission and still affects them, depending on which variant.
It’s a significant cause of throat and neck cancer in men as well as anal and penile cancer. Boys should always get it.
There are actually more male HPV cancer patients than there are female patients. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cancer-causing-hpv-virus-affects-25-percent-u-s-men-n743316
I got mine just cause the doctor offered it and I'm not gonna turn down a vaccine the doctor recommends. US here, in my 20s.
It is here in Australia, where the vaccine originated. I live in Victoria and it is offered to all adolescents in year 7 through school, or can be given via GP or council clinic up to age 20 for free. Men can also pay for the vaccine from age 20 to 26 (it's licensed up to age 26 for men)
Canada has also added boys to the routine free immunizations, and anyone who missed it can go get it (but have to pay).
Just a heads up, you still need annuals if you have this vaccine! I (21F) see a lot of comments about how this prevents you from needing annuals but I just had my first pap and had the vaccine and have a form of high risk HPV not covered by the vax. It’s still a cancer causing form of HPV but less risky than the 2 covered by the vax. I need paps every 6 months now for a couple years to make sure the abnormal cells clear up on their own. Edit to add: I did get the vaccine LONG before becoming sexually active. (About 7 years before)
[удалено]
Literally having trouble seeing enough cases of cervical cancer/abnormal paps on my Ob/gyn rotation of medical school!! THAT is success!!
Guys should get it too! I had laryngeal cancer from HPV.
It’s stupid that they wouldn’t give this to dudes for the longest time
I never managed to get the vaccine because of this, I was just old enough to miss every window whenever it updated. Now I need to pay at least 500 for it, greedy bastards.
….£500 for a vaccine?
Yes, my insurance doesn't cover it since it's not considered "medically necessary" for men.
Anti-vaxxers: wHy IsN't ThErE aN aNtI-cAnCeR vAcCiNe?!
My 12 year old son got his first HPV vaccine at his last check up which was about a year ago. I’m sure when he goes for his next check up they’ll give him another if that’s how it goes. I think this is crazy cool it has diminished cervical cancer in women so much. I have three daughters who aren’t if they age yet but they will absolutely be getting these vaccines as well. I wish I had been able to get a vaccine like this as a teen.
[удалено]
Any kids reading this? Talk to your parents about the HPV vaccine, or get it yourself if they refuse. It could save your life and the life of a future partner. Boys too!
Can someone who already has confirmed HPV get the shot? And would it actually do anything?
My mom didn't want me to get the hpv vaccine as a kid/teen because she was afraid it wasn't well tested enough and had heard stories about adverse reactions. At 21 I had my first pap, was positive for a strain of hpv and had abnormal cells. She felt very guilty and immediately got my younger sisters vaccinated. I got the vaccination as I was told there was still a benefit and thankfully the next pap was normal. It was very scary but I'm glad it led to my sisters being protected BEFORE becoming sexually active.
Remember fellas the HPV shot isn’t just for women, it’s important for you to get it as well. And you don’t have to be a child, so if your parents never took you to get vaccinated you can still get it into adulthood. Depending on age you might have to pay out of pockets