[SMforshort]

Boys are now being offered the HPV vaccination. The main benefit I have heard is that it will reduce the spread of this virus and decrease the rate of cervical cancer in women.

So what are the benefits for boys? What are the risks?

Of course I would like to see fewer women being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Like all of us I'd like to see all cancer eradicated.

But am I exposing my boys to a risk by giving them a vaccination that has no benefits for them?

My boys have had all the other recommended vaccinations and I am in no way anti-vaccination, I just want to do the right thing by my boys.

SM

[PatG]

Well, first of all there is the benefit to your boys of decreasing the risk that their wife/girlfriend/mother of your grandchildren will develop cervical cancer....

Secondly HPV is also linked to cancers which can affect males - anal, penile and head and neck cancers (oropharyngeal cancers).

[FluffyOscar]

I would imagine that not passing a virus that leads to a cancer that can kill your son's partner and the mother of his children might be a good one.

Also to reduce his risk of getting HPV (unless he intends using condoms for all sexual relationships if he becomes infected or discloses this fact). Having the virus may decrease his chance of getting laid.

Also because it is the right thing to do.

[alisona]

Some research also suggests a link between circumcision and HPV transmission. This is NOT a post about circumcision - just a comment that if this research is true then with the decline in circumcision maybe the vaccine could help counter any increase in transmission of HPV.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2157...ncer-rates.html

[Alacritous~Andy]

Hungry beast, the ABC program, did a great story about this a couple of years back, campaigning for boys to be included in the vaccination schedule. At that point, the only negative was cost (as it wasn't subsidised for males), but the advice then was that men should be getting the vax if at all possible.

I haven't heard of any negative effects of the vax for men. And stopping your son getting HPV is a pretty big plus. It has links to cancer in men, too, though not strongly linked (at this stage).

[SMforshort]

By those two arguments, castrating him would protect women as well. Who knows, he might be gay or end up entering a celebate religious order and not be a risk to women anyway.

I'm not saying I'm against it.

I just want to know what the risks/benefits are to him.

PatG, you mentioned higher rates of other cancers triggered by this virus. How much higher are the rates of cancer?

And I still don't have any idea what the risks of this vaccination are. Is it risk free?

SM

[FluffyOscar]

By those two arguments, castrating him would protect women as well. Who knows, he might be gay or end up entering a celebate religious order and not be a risk to women anyway.

In the event your son is gay, then the risk will be to his male partner, and vice versa if the partner is not vaccinated.

And I still don't have any idea what the risks of this vaccination are. Is it risk free?

So ask EB. Good idea

[PatG]

By those two arguments, castrating him would protect women as well. Who knows, he might be gay or end up entering a celebate religious order and not be a risk to women anyway.

I'm not saying I'm against it.

I just want to know what the risks/benefits are to him.

PatG, you mentioned higher rates of other cancers triggered by this virus. How much higher are the rates of cancer?

And I still don't have any idea what the risks of this vaccination are. Is it risk free?

SM

I'm not sure what you mean by higher rates of other cancers? I mentioned that HPV is linked to cancers other than cervical. Perhaps you should ask your GP for some current literature or do some fact based research. There is some info here from the US. Among other things it says this "HPV types 16 and 18 have also been found to cause close to half of vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers ".

As far as risk of the vaccine - the consent forms you would complete as a parent should outline the current understanding regarding risks.

This post has been edited by PatG: 22/02/2013, 09:23 PM

[SMforshort]

In the event your son is gay, then the risk will be to his male partner, and vice versa if the partner is not vaccinated.



So ask EB. Good idea

So if my son is gay and he passes this virus onto a male partner, does it matter if there are no significant health risks to men from this virus?

As to why ask EB - I've had great help from EB members in the past who have helped me located information I've had trouble finding myself.

I find that vaccinations are a very devisive issue with people having strong (often opposing) views. I will talk to my GP and I'm sure they'll have a strong view too. Asking EB - I get lots of varied views and access to the knowledge of many intelligent women. Why wouldn't I ask EB?

[April girl]

Well, first of all there is the benefit to your boys of decreasing the risk that their wife/girlfriend/mother of your grandchildren will develop cervical cancer....

Secondly HPV is also linked to cancers which can affect males - anal, penile and head and neck cancers (oropharyngeal cancers).

Couldn't put it better myself PatG. I'll be getting my son immunised against HPV. To the PP re. circumscision - don't derail this thread FGS when it is important to get the word out about HPV vaccination in males.
To OP - if you have a daughter you would vaccinate against HPV I think you have your answer already.