Maybe it would help men take more care if they knew facts like certain types of HPV are responsible for over 50% of penile cancers? Although less common than cervical and vaginal cancer, it still occurs. But since no studies have been done on the incidence of men with HPV those figures could be higher. If we don't know how many men have HPV how can we truly tell how many cases of penile cancer have been caused by it?
You'd think the lessons we've learned from AIDS, that sexually transmitted diseases don't discriminate, would have been absorbed by now. Even though news stories are full of facts and figures about how women are affected by HPV it doesn't mean men aren't part of the picture.
Even if they were to find that the virus has little or no bearing on the health of men, which they won't because of the previously mentioned penile cancer link, shouldn't men take it upon themselves to bear some of the responsibility? Could you really live with yourself knowing that because of your carelessness someone you loved died of cervical cancer?
Sexually transmitted diseases don't have to place anyone at risk, no matter one's level of activity. All that needs to be done is ensure proper education, protection, research not limited to only one gender, and everybody taking responsibility for their actions. But somehow that simple solution seems to keep eluding us and until we achieve it people will continue to die for no reason, and there is no excuse for that.
Article comments
1 - Tim
This is a situation where parents should talk to their family doctor (whom they presumably trust), to get all of the information before making a decision. Sara of Parenting With Sara just wrote a column about this, illustrating how parents can become confused when they lack information. cheers, tk
2 - Purple Tigress
Oh, that's the obvious question in my mind. If you wanted to stop an epidemic wouldn't you want to vaccinate the carrier?
I actually haven't heard of any reason why the current vaccine wouldn't work on boys and men, but since the focus is on women it would seem that the old stigma of cervical cancer being a bad girls cancer hasn't totally gone away. It's just been transmuted from it's the girl's fault to it's a girl's responsibility.
It should be the responsibility of both parties.
Please note that HPV isn't commonly tested for, even in the porn industry and other sex workers.
3 - Good Girl
Cervical cancer is nothing to be ashamed about and HPV is NOT the only cause of cervical cancer...not an STD
I have it and consider myself morally respectable and a lady...Thank You!
4 - Shelley
I've just been vaccinated with Gardasil, it is not yet mandatory in our school, but i took advantage if this free vaccination.
I totally agree, if you want to stop the spread of a disease you knock out the main character. Gardasil is safe to use on males, but was only registered as a cervical cancer vaccine thus the free vaccination of only females...
The responsibility should not just fall on the females to stop the spread of HPV's but also the male carriers.....
5 - HPV
Hpv is a huge Std these days its so easy to catch and condoms don't even work against this Std. It seems everyone has it and people are starting to talk about it more wich is important.