The boys have won in a long battle to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted HPV (human papilloma virus).
The announcement came this week from the health secretary Matt Hancock, calling for all boys between 12 and 13 to be vaccinated from September 2019, if not sooner.
Although known to cause 2,000 male cancers per year, previous claims from health chiefs state the vaccination was simply not cost effective. However, more recent studies suggest not only will it save money but it will also save the lives of around 700 males per year.
This is fantastic news for our next generation of young men, who will now be offered the vaccination along with the teenage girls who already receive the jab.
What is HPV
Linked to head, neck, throat, penile, anal and vaginal cancers, human papilloma is a virus passed through unprotected sexual intercourse and skin-to-skin contact of the genital areas. Research has proven a connection between HPV and cancers in genital areas, like the vagina, vulva, penis, and anus.
It has also been linked to oral cancers and responsible for hundreds of deaths each year.
99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by high-risk human papilloma virus.
Human papilloma virus is also found in 91% of Anal cancers per year, a number that cannot be ignored.
Most HPV infections carry no symptoms, so testing and regular check ups are highly recommended.
HPV cannot be treated, but in most people with low risk HPV the body clears the infection within 2 years of being infected. This is not always the case with the high risk types
You can however treat the symptoms of HPV such as genital warts with cryotherapy and topical creams, which we can do here at the clinic
If you feel you need protecting against the human papilloma virus, we offer the Gardasil 9 vaccine in our surgery, along with a full STI screen and tests for HPV plus further advice on protecting yourself and the young adults in your family.
Get in touch today to book your bespoke and completely confidential service.
Unlike the NHS, we offer additional services such as Anal smears in men and can offer off licence Gardasil vaccination for all ages.
More about the Gardasil 9 vaccine.
Gardasil 9 vaccine is the latest HPV vaccination. Where as the previous Gardasil vaccine protected against 70% of cervical cancers, the updated Gardasil 9 version will protect against up to 93% of these as well as protection for the five next most common cancer-causing HPVs globally.