Sexually Active Males Rapidly Contracting HPV

Nearly half of men who were previously virgins and had sex were infected with HPV within 2 years, researchers found.

This study reported that 28 percent of men were infected with HPV within 1 year of initiating sex, and 45 percent were infected within 2 years.

Seventy-nine million Americans, most in their late teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

And, many are unaware of their HPV infection.

“These findings highlight the rapid acquisition of HPV among men and thus emphasize the importance of HPV vaccination before sexual debut,” researcher Zhiyue Liu, of the epidemiology department at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and colleagues wrote.

This study included men of various ages from Florida, Brazil, and Mexico, and was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

“However, as men remain at risk for HPV infection throughout their lives, HPV vaccination at older ages provides benefit,” said Liu.

In another study, to better understand why male college athletes in the USA were not vaccinated for HPV, researchers evaluated an awareness program.

This research found 21 percent of college-aged males had limited knowledge of HPV, and only 4 percent were concerned about HPV infection.

In a three-month study follow-up, just 12 percent of previously unvaccinated men had gotten the HPV vaccine.

Based on their findings, these researchers believe that HPV educational programs should be incorporated into orientation sessions for college freshmen.

And, that HPV vaccination should be available on campus at student health facilities.

According to the CDC, HPV is an identifiable cause of nearly all cervical cancers, and is also involved in most mouth and throat, anal, and other cancers, as well as genital and anal warts.

During 2016, the CDC approved a two-dose schedule for adolescents under age 15 instead of the traditional three-dose schedule.

The Gardasil 9 vaccine immunizes against nine genotypes of HPV known to cause cervical cancer, as well as vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers and genital warts caused by HPV.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

Most pharmacies offer vaccination services, including HPV.

HPV vaccine discounts can be found here.

These researchers, Zhiyue Liu, Alan G Nyitray, Lu-Yu Hwang, Michael D Swartz, Martha Abrahamsen, report no relevant financial disclosures.