Can young men get the HPV vaccination?
If your girlfriend has been vaccinated, she is more likely to be free of the HPV types prevented by the vaccine that she receives. Two vaccines are now available in Canada; one that protects against types 16 and 18 and the other against types 6, 11, 16 and 18. These four types of HPV cause 70% of all cervical cancers and 90% of all genital warts. But this does not mean you are fully protected from HPV infections. She can still carry other types of the HPV virus. If your girlfriend was sexually active before she was vaccinated, she may have one of the types preventable by the vaccine. Vaccination can only prevent, not cure or treat an HPV infection. In 2010, Health Canada approved HPV vaccination for young men ages 9 to 26. So, you can now further protect yourself by getting vaccinated. As well, there is still a need to practice safe sex, as your partner can also have other STIs.
