The British Medical Association (BMA) has recommended that the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination be extended to homosexual men to reduce the risk of anal cancer.
The recommendation was made following concerns over the “alarming” rate of HPV-related disorders in homosexual men, including anal and throat cancers in addition to genital and anal warts.
Currently, the Gardasi vaccination is given to girls aged 12-13 to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that can cause cervical cancer.
The BMA has written to Health minister Anna Soubry requesting that the vaccination programme be available to homosexual men.
The letter said: “The increasing incidence of HPV and development of anal lesions in gay men, particularly HIV positive gay men, is alarming.
“As doctors of this cohort, we need to be sensitive to any factors that could impact on individuals being able to protect themselves and work towards protecting them from acquiring infections at an early age.
“We believe that a vaccination programme with Gardasil which included this group would be of enormous benefit in reducing the increasing incidences of anal warts, anal pre-cancers and cancers, as has been borne out in Australia”.
Dr Richard Ma, a GP in north London and a member of the RCGP’s Sex, Drugs and HIV taskgroup said: “I would support the BMA on principle. Gay men are at a higher risk of developing anal cancer, and will not be protected by the herd immunity conferred from vaccinating girls”.
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