The New HPV Vaccine May Soon Be Available For Men

HPV vaccine manufacturer Merck is going to petition the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval to market their new HPV vaccine Gardasil for males as well as females. The original FDA approval limited the use of Gardasil to women. Almost immediately this raised concerns that men would continue to become infected with HPV. While HPV in women can cause cervical cancer, men can develop genital warts and anal cancer. In men who have sex with men, the risk is even greater. It is only logical to offer protection to men as well as women. Studies of Gardasil involving over 4000 males 16 to 23 has already begun. In fact, in Australia Gardasil has already been approved for use in males 9 to 15 years old. The HPV rate is higher in men than it is in women. Experts believe that if HPV infection rates can be reduced in males, the rate for women will decline as well.

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