AIBU to not understand why this is not offered to women under 45?

[StripyHorse]

DD1 brought a letter home about the HPV vaccine. As I completed the form and explained to her what it was for she said that the boys also had a letter about it. I hadn't realised that boys are now included and being nosy, googled it.

What I also found out, is that it is offered to MSM (men who have sex with men) up to the age of 45 because 'they do not benefit indirectly from women being vaccinated'. I don't have an issue with this at all, I am all for anyone who is at risk being vaccinated.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/hpv-human-papillomavirus-vaccine/

I admit I do not know a huge amount about this, and someone may come on to explain that vaccinating women under 45 (who were too old for the vaccine when it was introduced) is not effective - in which case, fair enought.

But, if that is not the case, AIBU to think that if it is offered to men, it should also be offered to women?

Yanbu I don’t quite get it but giving this post a bump in case someone else has a good explanation

Hmm I'm following with interest

It is offered to women isn’t it?

Most people have HPV once they start having sexual contact including kissing. That's why the bulk of the vaccination programme is aimed at kids who we hope won't have had any contact yet.

As far as I know there is no proven benefit yet for adults to have the vaccination in any circumstances, but in the absence of clear evidence against, some high risk groups might be offered/advised to consider the vaccination. But I await more knowledgeable posters.

It is offered to women isn’t it?

Only up to the age of 25

I am not a doctor or an epidemiologist but it’s my understanding that before the vaccine most adult women (something like 4/5) will develop HPV during their lifetimes, so it’s simply too late. That is why the vaccine is given in y8 and y9, before most become sexually active.

An interesting question.
Google tells me that NHS started providing the vaccine to 12-13 year old girls in 2007 - do the oldest of those recipients is 26 years old. I cant see how a 44 year old man who sleeps with men needs the vaccination more than a woman who sleeps with men.
Sounds like #everydaysexism to me.

I agree would best if it was available for all but.... MSM are at a much higher risk of anal cancer caused by HPV than the rest of the population.

They are also at higher risk of HIV which can in turn significantly increase their risk of HPV related cancers and genital warts.

So overall they have been identified as a high risk group which is why they are offered the vaccine.

I just googled it too and what I read is anyone up to age 25 can have it on the NHS and its recommended for people up to 45 (with payment) However I had to pay for my son to be vaccinated when he was 13 so this must be a recent change.
As well as MSM I noticed trans men and trans women who have sex with men can also get it on the nhs up to 45.

Why is the vaccine onlyoffered to the MSM population that attends level 3 Specialist Sexual health services/ GUM and HIV clinics?
In all men 80-85% of anal cancers, 36% of throat cancer and 50% of penile cancers are associated with HPV infection. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk of HPV related disease compared to heterosexual men, and MSM attend sexual health services/ GUM and HIV clinics are known to be a high-risk group within the MSM population in terms of risk behaviour and STI transmission. Since September 2008, a national HPV Immunisation Programme for girls has been delivered throughout the UK to help prevent cervical cancer. The programme offers vaccination to girls in school year 8 (age 12-13 years) with a catch-up for girls under 18 years of age. The girls’ HPV vaccine programme has proved highly successful, with coverage exceeding 85% in the routine cohort. In addition to direct protection to women, the current HPV programme induces population or herd protection, which provides substantial protection to heterosexual boys and men. However, men who have sex with men will not benefit from this population or herd protection.

This should explain it for you.

Sorry bolding didn’t work.

And that’s an older article, since September 2019 boys in Y8 are also offered HPV vaccine too.

I don’t have any answers for you but wanted to thank you for posting as it caused me to google and find out that my boys (year 9 and year 11) can still get this vaccine through the nhs.
It has only been offered to boys in year 8 since September 2019 so both my boys missed out on it

That is interesting. As I understood, the only reason it "isn't effective" in women aged 25 - 45 is that they mostly have been sexually active and therefore almost certainly exposed to HPV. Not that their age itself means the vaccine won't work on them if they hadn't been. However men in that age group, whether msm or otherwise, are the same, so I don't see why it would be effective for them. Maybe I have got the wrong information though.

Cervical cancer rates increasing, lead researcher says insufficient data to conclude if vaccine can actually stop Cervical Cancer

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cervical-cancer-screening-hpv-vaccination-young-women-a9295291.html

Isn't it because its dangerous for pregnant women (the fetus)?ie the risk of accidently giving it to pregnant women

Thank you to those with explanations. I am aware of my ignorance so I posted largely due to my confusion.

1300cakes has pretty much summed up my point. I am too old to have received the HPV vaccine and I am not eligible for it.

Is a 40 year old msm more at risk of HPV than a 40 year old woman? Or is does the vaccine work in such a way that it won't protect the woman but could protect the man?

I am glad to be of service Pipandmum 🙂

Chughachuggachoocoo thank you that helps clarify some of my confusion.

mumwon I assume not because women under 25 are eligible for it.

I have wondered this too.

Iam glad to be of service Pipandmum 🙂 oops, sorry I meant Fiddlersgreen

Women under 25 years old should have had it at school - so offering it to women up to this age is only offering it to women who missed out at school or who are new to the UK.

So, if say you were a woman older than 25, could you have a test for HPV and if you were negative, would it be worth having the vaccine?

@zen1 yes. I want to know this too. At my last cervical screening they did an HPV test. Mine was negative. So assuming I’ve not had HPV, is there any value in my getting vaccinated? I’m married and we are both monogamous. Even if I did get HPV now, how long from infection to it causing cancer (if I were to be one of the unlucky ones)?