Khaberni - A recent study shows that vaccinating males against the human papillomavirus may significantly contribute to reducing their risk of cancer, a step scientists see as important for enhancing prevention in men.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, after analyzing the health records of over three million young men, revealed that those who received the latest version of the vaccine were less likely to develop cancers associated with the virus, such as head, neck, and penile cancers. The results showed a reduction in the risk of these cancers by up to 46% among vaccinated individuals compared to the unvaccinated.
The study also indicated that the incidence rate had dropped from about 12.5 cases per 100,000 among the unvaccinated to 7.8 cases per 100,000 among those who were vaccinated, a protective effect noted among both teenagers and young adults.
The human papillomavirus is one of the most common viruses and is transmitted through direct skin contact. Although most infections are harmless and clear up on their own, some high-risk strains can lead to serious diseases, including head and neck cancers, anal and penile cancers, as well as cervical cancer in women.
Until recently, most scientific evidence focused on the vaccine's role in protecting women, especially from cervical cancer, while studies related to men have focused more on reducing infection rather than preventing cancer itself. However, this study was distinguished by its direct comparison between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, enhancing the strength of its results.
Despite these findings, vaccination programs in many countries still primarily target girls. Scientists emphasize that expanding vaccination to include boys can limit the spread of the virus, provide direct protection for men, and help lower global cancer rates.
On the other hand, scientists warn that cancer cases among young people are still relatively rare, and not all cancers included in the study result from the virus, stressing the importance of conducting long-term studies to understand the full impact of the vaccine.
Experts also point out that some practices, such as oral sex, may increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer associated with high-risk strains of the virus. While most infected individuals get rid of the infection spontaneously, a small percentage may develop a chronic infection that leads to cancer over time.
Thus, these results confirm that the human papillomavirus vaccine's role is not limited to protecting women, but it also represents an important tool for cancer prevention in men as well.
