re: FDA Asked to Approve Gardasil for Boys

Lula — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:56:38 GMT

Vaccinating boys will also be useful in reducing rates of HPV-related ano-rectal cancers among the new generations of men who have sex with men. It's a serious problem, especially for HIV+ men and those with other immune-compromise conditions. I don't expect that discussion to show up much in parenting magazines, but a certain percentage of our sons will grow up to be sexually-active gay men who enjoy anal sex. Good to provide them with the protection offered by HPV vaccines for their own health, as well as the health of their partners (male or female).

That leads nicely into the topic of anal sex in general. Given the prevalence of anal intercourse in heterosexual populations, vaccinating boys will also help to reduce rates of ano-rectal cancers among women who have anal sex with male partners. It's not as much of a problem just yet as HPV-related cervical cancer (at least in HIV-negative women), but we'll see more anal and rectal cancers related to HPV infection as women age and experience natural immune system decline.

re: FDA Asked to Approve Gardasil for Boys

Shannon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:34:03 GMT

I'm with you, Jeanne. I hope there are better studies to go on before the time comes. I am mostly pro-vaccines of all kinds, but much, much prefer knowing they've been around for a while with a chance to get their "bugs" fixed.

I will probably wait as long as I can to have my daughter vaccinated and would do the same if I had--ever have--a boy.