How the cervical cancer vaccine can benefit boys too
THE Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common viruses in the world; in fact, it is so common that is also labelled the common cold of STIs. It is also one of the leading causes of cervical cancer, and as such over the years medical practitioners have increased the call for girls to be vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. However, medical internist Dr Samantha Nicholson-Spence said in light of the global increase in the number of men who have developed HPV-related cancers, boys have also been offered the vaccine as well.
“We have seen where the HPV vaccine is being offered to not just girls as in the past, but boys as well because of its ability to prevent many cancers from ever developing in either sex. The fact is that they may not be predisposed to cervical cancer, but they are at risk of other cancers that may be triggered by the HPV virus such as those of the anus and penis,” Dr Nicholson-Spence said.
She pointed out that outside of cervical cancer, the HPV virus has been linked to the development of other cancers such as oropharyngeal (throat/mouth), anal, penile cancer, vulval and vaginal cancer. For cancers of the throat and penis, which are common in men, Dr Nicholson-Spence said that getting the HPV vaccine may be a game-changer since, unlike cervical cancer, there are no existing reliable screening methods that can prevent these cancers from developing. Therefore it is important that boys are offered this method of prevention against these cancers through vaccination. This is the only guaranteed way that the world will see a reduction in the increasing rates of men with HPV-related cancers.
Apart from its cancer-causing abilities, Dr Nicholson-Spence said that the HPV vaccine also offers protection from genital warts which can affect both sexes.
“Two vaccines are offered, Cervarix and Gardasil, the latter of which used in the prevention against certain HPV strains such as 6 and 11 which cover the strains of HPV which cause genital warts. The latter of the two can be particularly crucial to men because depending on the type of sex that they practice, without prevention warts can come up on the vocal cords. When they appear here, they can be very difficult to treat, especially when you have them lining the throat,” Dr Nicholson-Spence explained.
She said another benefit of boys getting the vaccine is that it will serve the entire population, noting that there will be a reduction in the number of people who will get and potentially develop cancer or other related medical conditions.
“When vaccinated, this is not just for the recipient of the vaccine, but potential partners as well. If the entire population is vaccinated against cervical cancer, then men will not be carriers of the virus. If they are not carriers of the virus then they can’t transmit it to unsuspecting women who have not had their own vaccines and can then develop cervical cancer,” Dr Nicholson-Spence explained.
