Gardasil now protects men against human papillomavirus (HPV) as it does effectively on women. Each year about 2 out of 1,000 men are diagnosed with genital warts.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and it affects 50% of sexually active adults over their lifetime and most genital warts are caused by HPV infections. Preventing the tenacious HPV infection and genital warts in men, it may also protect them from cancers of the anus and penis.

This new study was funded by the Gardasil maker, Merck& Co. Ithad 4,065 sexually active young men from ages 16 through 26, from 18 countries, who were HPV-free. The study found that those in the Gardasil group were less likely by 65.5% to develop genital warts that are caused by four HPV strains, which Gardasil fights against.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 20 million Americans currently have a strain of HPV and with 6 million new cases each year. Those participants completed the three-dosage treatment and the vaccine was 90.4% effective at preventing genital warts and 85.6% effective at preventing HPV infection.

“With Gardasil now available to boys and men, it allows the HPV infection to remain contained and eventually after some time, maybe about 2 years, it will be obsolete,” said Dr. Ramirez a pediatrician part of Pediatric Associates.

                  The genital HPV is often asymptomatic, meaning that you or your partner could be infected and eventually clear the infection without developing any symptoms or disease. In this case the asymptomatic carrier is lucky, but the next partner that may be infected may not be fortunate. The appearance of warts around the penis or scrotum may represent the first part of a more difficult genital HPV infection for men who are sexually active, according to the study conducted by Merck & Co.

                  With its’ 40 different strains, the virus’ symptoms and outcomes can vary where most people who have the virus may show no symptoms and have no lasting health problems. About 90% of HPV cases clear up on their own and it can take up to two years for it to happen, giving sufficient time to spread the disease.

                  “There are many virus strains that can lead to the infection and eventually to cancer, even though for men it is uncommon to have penile cancer, but always keep in mind that there is always that possibility,” said Dr. Ramirez.

                  Condom use is a good method against spreading the virus and in some studies it says that the proper use of a condom may reduce the likelihood of contracting HPV by 70%. For those that have a weak immune system run a higher risk of developing symptoms and diseases that are associated with genital HPV.

                  Putting aside the uncomfortable warts is that genital HPV can lead to cancer. In males, the HPV related cancers are penile and anal cancer, even though they are uncommon. According to the same study, one of the reasons that the HPV vaccine first targeted women instead of men was that cervical cancer takes in account for 80% of HPV-related cancers; male cancer is 20%.

                  The study was conducted to measure the immune response to the vaccine for boys’ ages 9-15. The results showed that the immune systems’ response was good. The manufacturer will lead a post-marketing study to have additional information on the safety and success of Gardasil on boys and men.

                 “I will wait a while until there is some more feedback with Gardasil protecting boys and men so I could have my son go through with the injections,” said Jessenia Marcos, mother of a 16-year-old boy.

                 For men, the risk level connected with a HPV infection may appear to be low but with irresponsible sexual habits the possibility of infection can increase greatly.