Women health
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Why is the HPV vaccine only offered to girls?

I know that females can get cervical cancer from HPV and boys don't have a cervix. However, boys do catch and pass on HPV and I'm sure they don't like it. Also, since most girls catch HPV from a guy, wouldn't it reduce the number of girls who have it if we reduced the number of guys who have it?

Does anybody have any idea why it's only for girls?

Women are more prone to cancer (cervical) than men due to the infection of human papilloma virus- types 16, 18, 31 and 45. Regular pap smears are necessary to detect HPV or other abnormal changes related to this virus. Having both HPV and herpes virus together puts you at particular risk for cervical cancer.
The vaccine has been extensively tested in 9 through 26 year-old females so information is only available about vaccine safety and protection for girls/women of this age group. However, studies on the vaccine are now being done in boys/men, as well as in women older than 26 years of age. The FDA will consider licensing the vaccine for these other groups when there is research to show that it is safe and effective in these groups.

While men can contract HPV and it has been associated with several types of anal and penial cancers, they are only offering the vacine to girls at this point, for who knows what reason. Maybe the vacine they have developed is only effective on girls at this point. They are currently developing one for men as well, but again, who knows when it will become available?

HPV is linked to various cancers. Cervical cancer is the most recognizable cancer caused by HPV though recent studies have shown that oral cancers may also be caused by HPV. Males can receive the vaccine if the doctor is willing to give it to them and I doubt insurance would pay for them. The vaccine was only studied in females which is why it can only be given to females. I think that the vaccine is being looked into for male use and many advocate that it should become available for males, especially those at increased risk of exposure.

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