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There are many different strains of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). About 40 of these strains are transmitted via sexual intercourse. Some of the sexually transmitted strains cause genital warts while others cause cancer. Not everyone infected with HPV develops any form of clinical illness. In fact, the majority of HPV infections cause no problems with the person unaware they were ever infected.

In women, the virus causes cervical cancer in about 12,000 women a year in the USA. In men, some cases of penile cancer, mainly in uncircumcised men, and some cases of anal cancer have HPV as their root cause. Penile and anal cancers are rare. The American Cancer Society estimates that in the USA about 1,900 cases of anal cancer occurred in 2007 and 1,530 cases of penile cancer occurred in 2006.

With the link between cervical cancer and a viral cause confirmed scientists set about developing a vaccine. After successful clinical trials, the HPV vaccine Gardasil received a license for use in females. Currently the vaccine is available for women between the ages of 9 and 26 it provides protection against genital warts and cancer producing strains of HPV. Cases of anal cancer frequently go undetected until they reach an advanced stage. Where symptoms occur they include anal bleeding, pain, itching or discharge. Some patients develop a lymphadenopathy with swollen lymph nodes in the groin or anal area. Other patients notice a change to their bowel habits.

Anal cancer occurs in bisexual and homosexual men 17 times more frequently than in heterosexual men. Patients with a healthy immune system are less prone to developing HPV associated warts and cancers. With their defective immune system, patients infected with HIV are more likely to develop viral induced cancers and are prone to severe wart infections, which are difficult to treat.

Cervical screening for HPV and cervical cancer has a proven history in the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer in women. Although some physicians the use Pap smear for screening gay men for anal cancer no national program for such screens currently exists.

The effectiveness of Gardasil in protecting men from serious HPV infections is unknown. Studies into its use in men are ongoing. Until such studies prove the vaccine is effective for men, the FDA has only approved its usage in females. If it gains FDA approval then gay men indulging in unprotected anal intercourse may benefit from the protection a vaccine against HPV will give them

Reference Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC

American Cancer Society

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