# Why is the HPV vaccine only for girls?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-hpv-vaccine-only-for-girls/387046>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 7, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-hpv-vaccine-only-for-girls/387046 "2007-01-07T13:56:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-hpv-vaccine-only-for-girls/387046/1 "2007-01-07T13:56:12Z")

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I know I should be able to find the answer to this myself, but so far, no luck.

Human Papilloma virus is an STD. It’s passed by sexual contact. It causes cervical cancer in females, but no equivalent serious illness in males, mainly because males lack cervices. Males _do_ become infected with HPV, they get genital warts.  
So, why not treat males prior to first sexual contact too?

Wouldn’t treating both sexes be more effective in eliminating the virus completely?

Does the vaccine have negative side effects for males? Has it even been tested on males?

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-hpv-vaccine-only-for-girls/387046/2 "2007-01-07T14:38:09Z")

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The tests aren’t in yet, basically. Maybe someday they’ll recommend it:

> [@](#):
>
> Why is the HPV vaccine only recommended for girls/women ages 9 to 26?  
> The vaccine has been widely tested in 9-to-26 year-old girls/women. But research on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy has only recently begun with women older than 26 years of age. The FDA will consider licensing the vaccine for these women when there is research to show that it is safe and effective for them.
> 
> What about vaccinating boys?  
> We do not yet know if the vaccine is effective in boys or men. It is possible that vaccinating males will have health benefits for them by preventing genital warts and rare cancers, such as penile and anal cancer. It is also possible that vaccinating boys/men will have indirect health benefits for girls/women. Studies are now being done to find out if the vaccine works to prevent HPV infection and disease in males. When more information is available, this vaccine may be licensed and recommended for boys/men as well.

[http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm)