Study: HPV Vaccine Works in Men

A vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer in women also protects men against genital warts, a study finds. The vaccine, known as Gardasil, prevents infection with four types of human papilloma virus (HPV). These types cause cervical cancer in women and genital warts in both sexes. HPV also can cause cancer of the anus, penis and mouth. The three-dose vaccine is recommended as a routine vaccine for girls. The nation’s largest group of children’s doctors said this week that boys “may” also receive it. But the group did not endorse routine use. The new study included more than 4,000 boys and men, ages 16 through 26. They were randomly assigned to receive either Gardasil or a placebo (fake) vaccine. Researchers kept track of them for 2 to 3 years. For those not previously infected, getting all 3 shots of the real vaccine reduced new infections by 90%.