20 Years Ago, Women Got a Preventative Cancer Treatment. Now It’s Protecting Men Too.
Everybody wins.
A preventative cancer vaccine initially developed for women two decades ago is now demonstrating significant protective benefits for men as well. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2006, was designed to prevent cervical cancer in females. The results have been remarkable—cervical cancer deaths among young women have declined sharply, with some countries experiencing nearly 90 percent reductions in cases among vaccinated populations.
Recent research suggests the vaccine’s protective reach extends beyond its original purpose. A large observational study analyzing health data from 1.4 million Americans found that vaccinated individuals experienced approximately 70 percent fewer head and neck cancers compared to unvaccinated counterparts. These cancers, particularly oropharyngeal cancers, represent some of the fastest-growing malignancies among men in the United States, with the HPV virus responsible for roughly 16,000 cases annually.
The virus spreads through sexual contact and can infect the throat and tonsils, potentially leading to cancer years after initial infection. In 2020, the FDA expanded the vaccine’s approved use to include head and neck cancer prevention in both sexes. Currently, vaccination rates among US adolescents stand at approximately 77 percent for males and 79 percent for females, yet awareness remains limited—over 70 percent of American adults are unaware that HPV can cause oral cancers.
Despite these advances, global vaccination efforts remain gender-focused, with the World Health Organization prioritizing girls while classifying boys as secondary targets. Experts emphasize that expanding vaccination coverage could significantly reduce cancer rates worldwide.
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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