Gay men seek
'female cancer' jab
23 Feb 2007- Homosexual men are requesting a
controversial "sex disease" vaccine designed to prevent a female cancer.
Gardasil protects against the most common of sexually transmitted
infections, human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.
But HPV also causes genital warts and anal and penile
cancer, and men argue the jab would guard against these. Many private
clinics are offering it to men. One in London says it has immunised
dozens in the last six weeks.
Gardasil has been causing controversy since it was
launched in the UK late last year, mainly because it is designed to be
given to children before they become sexually active and can catch HPV.
The government is considering whether all girls, and
possibly boys, aged 11 or 12 should get it routinely in schools,
ultimately to cut cervical cancer rates.
Gardasil is licensed for boys and girls aged nine to
15 and women aged 16 to 26. But doctors can opt to give it to other
people "off licence" if they wish.
Dr Sean Cummings at the Freedom Health clinic in
Harley Street, where dozens of men have had the jab, said he was happy
to recommend Gardasil to his adult men, at £450 for a three-dose course.
"We've had a strong demand for it. I had a man come in
for the vaccine this morning. He was 24. Then I have one this afternoon
who is 67 years old.
"The motivation is to protect themselves and to
prevent spreading HPV to their partners." Opponents say there is no
point in immunising people who are already sexually active.
But Dr Paul Fox, a genito-urinary medicine expert at
the Chelsea and Westminster and Ealing hospitals, believes it can be
worthwhile.
He argues that it is unlikely a person will have
encountered all of the four strains of HPV found in Gardasil, including
the two linked to cancers, even if they are leading a very promiscuous
sex life.
"We should not just be looking at vaccinating people
in their pre-teen years. Other people would benefit as well." Dr Jo
Longstaff, of the Independent General Practice private clinic in
Cardiff, which also offers the Gardasil vaccine, agrees.
"Our first enquiry about Gardasil was from a male
patient. I think they should be considering it." Dr Anne Szarewski,
clinical consultant for Cancer Research UK who has been involved in
evaluating both Merck's Gardasil and GSK's rival jab Cervarix, says
there may be a case for immunising men.
"Men who have sex with men are at a much higher risk
than average of anal cancer and genital warts, particularly if they are
HIV-positive.
"Clearly it would be very important if the vaccine
could protect. The problem is we do need proof." Merck is currently
testing the vaccine's efficacy in 4,000 men, including 500 men who have
sex with men. And the US National Institute of Health is also carrying
out trials to see what benefits it could have for people with HIV.
Merck said its priority was to tackle cervical cancer,
but has not ruled out giving the vaccine to other groups - including men
who have sex with men.
Roger Peabody of the Terrence Higgins Trust said if
the trials were successful, there would be a good case for vaccinating
young boys, not only to stop the spread of HPV to women, but to protect
men against HPV-related disease.
Dr Szarewski agreed, saying: "It is bad enough
suggesting to people that their 12-year-old daughter might need a
vaccine against a sexually transmitted infection.
"I would be interested to see the response of
suggesting to parents that they should vaccinate their boys at 12 in
case they become gay." She said heterosexual men and women also risked
anal cancer.
About 400 people are diagnosed with anal cancer each
year in the UK. The disease is slightly more common in women than men.
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