Did you get the HPV vaccine?

[Burning Petard]

I have urged my four grandchildren to get the HIV vaccine. They now range in age from 14 to 22, three boys, one girl.

Story in today's NY Times headlined "Close to Half of American Adults Infected with HPV, Survey Finds.

the story is at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/heal ... -news&_r=0

The lede says 'More than 42 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 59 are infected.' The body gives various numbers about the differences and similarities in groups according to sex and race/ethnicity. This virus is very closely associated with some nasty cancers.

But near the end it says: "Men generally have somewhat higher rates than women, but among Asian and Hispanic men, the infections are not significantly more common. The reasons for these variations are not known." But just before that it says: "Indeed, there is no HPV test for men at all."

Huh? then where did all these numbers about men come from? What am I missing in this story? Is it just more bad journalistic writing?

snailgate

[Big RR]

I think what they are saying is that women are sometimes tested, while men are not during routine physical exams.

both of my daughters have had the vaccine, but I ma not certain I would recommend any male children to have it as the risk of having further complications if HPV is contracted is pretty small (from what I have read); in a real sense, men are more carriers. as every vaccine has a possibility of some serious side effects, I am not certain the benefits out weigh the risk for males.

[Burning Petard]

Really RR? You prefer the Typhoid Mary role for your male children?

snailgate

[Big RR]

No, if they are infected, they can easily prevent transmission by use of a condom. I would have all children vaccinated against rubella even though males do not carry children who could suffer birth defects because the virus is so easily transmitted and no safe methods of preventing transmission are available (and anyone who is concerned can choose to be vaccinated and protect themselves). Again, it is a risk/benefit analysis. From what I have read, it is also of benefit in reducing the incidence of anal cancer, so the algebra may be different for gay/bisexual men/boys who engage in that activity with other men.

I am not against vaccinating males, but I do think people have to consider a number of factors before choosing to be vaccinated or not.

[BoSoxGal]

Condom use is not common in many committed relationships where women are generally expected to utilize the pill or other hormonal contraceptives. Given that HPV infection can lead to infertility and/or deadly cancers, and a man can end up with oral or throat cancer by engaging in oral sex with his male or female partner, it's more than sensible for boys to get the vaccine, too - for their own protection as well as protecting their partners.

[rubato]

Everyone should get the HPV vaccine who has not already been infected. There has been an explosion in head and neck cancers caused by HPV due to the increase in oral sex.


yrs,
rubato

[Big RR]

While I agree they are on the increase, and HPV is a factor I many such cancers, I'd hardly call it an "explosion". But it is definitely something for males to consider in deciding whether to be vaccinated or not.

[rubato]

The rate of HPV infection is so high that the vaccine should be given before initiating sexual activity.

It is foolish not to.


yrs,
rubato

[Burning Petard]

I donated at the local blood bank Friday. First thing, they hand me a big stack of reading material so I can give really well informed consent. It noted that they are now checking for the Zika virus. Longer list of chemicals which if I have ingested, I should not donate.
Said they will check for STD's (unspecified) along with other stuff specific to AIDS/HIV. Also stated that if positive for STD, the state health authorities would be notified.

While the first technician did a small blood sample and checked my 'vitals', I asked them about HPV, and that I had just read that the NCHS was reporting 42% of the general population had it. They responded by a brief "I wouldn't know about that."

Well, it sure has me wondering. Just what does this mean for the blood banks? Seems to me it has potential for bigger damage than the Zika virus, or Propecia. But I guess we worry more about the unborn than the living.

snailgate

[BoSoxGal]

I think what they are saying is that women are sometimes tested, while men are not during routine physical exams.

both of my daughters have had the vaccine, but I ma not certain I would recommend any male children to have it as the risk of having further complications if HPV is contracted is pretty small (from what I have read); in a real sense, men are more carriers. as every vaccine has a possibility of some serious side effects, I am not certain the benefits out weigh the risk for males.

I just did some more reading at NIH and you might want to as well - apparently HPV causes penile cancers in men, and transmission is only reduced by 70% by use of condoms, so a male carrier is very likely to infect the woman he loves and thus put her at risk for deadly cancers.

Not sure how the very minimal risks posed by vaccination outweigh those risks?

[RayThom]

... I just did some more reading at NIH and you might want to as well - apparently HPV causes penile cancers in men, and transmission is only reduced by 70% by use of condoms, so a male carrier is very likely to infect the woman he loves and thus put her at risk for deadly cancers.

Not sure how the very minimal risks posed by vaccination outweigh those risks?

... and men who are not circumcised are more likely to get and stay infected with HPV.

Circumcision... good. Smegma... bad.

[datsunaholic]

I

Well, it sure has me wondering. Just what does this mean for the blood banks? Seems to me it has potential for bigger damage than the Zika virus, or Propecia. But I guess we worry more about the unborn than the living.

snailgate

According to what I read, it's not blood-borne so can't be transmitted through transfusions. HPV is a skin-to-skin transmission. But not all HPV strains are cancer causing, and not all are sexually transmitted. Hell, I have HPV and have never had any sexual contact of any kind. Plantar Warts (the kind you get on your feet) I got from a bathtub. But I've had papillomas in other places as well. I have one on my elbow now. There are over 170 types, with about a tenth of those thought or known to be cancer-causing.

The only test I heard about is to check for the presence of the cancer cells caused by the virus. Or if you have an outbreak, although they look quite similar to other wart-causing viruses.

[Big RR]

I think what they are saying is that women are sometimes tested, while men are not during routine physical exams.

both of my daughters have had the vaccine, but I ma not certain I would recommend any male children to have it as the risk of having further complications if HPV is contracted is pretty small (from what I have read); in a real sense, men are more carriers. as every vaccine has a possibility of some serious side effects, I am not certain the benefits out weigh the risk for males.

I just did some more reading at NIH and you might want to as well - apparently HPV causes penile cancers in men, and transmission is only reduced by 70% by use of condoms, so a male carrier is very likely to infect the woman he loves and thus put her at risk for deadly cancers.

Not sure how the very minimal risks posed by vaccination outweigh those risks?

That's precisely why everyone has to educate themselves as to the magnitude risks of vaccination and not vaccinating and weigh them against one another themselves. FWIW, as I do not have sons, I have not looked very closely into the risks for males and posted at the beginning to see what others thought; this has been a good discussion. IMHO, there are a lot of vaccines that should be looked at in the same way before a decision is made. In most cases I would likely lean toward getting a vaccination, but think everyone has to make the same decisions for themselves and not just blindly follow "doctor's orders".