cervical-cancer

HPV vaccine cuts cancer risk in men too, large study confirms

While the HPV vaccine has long been established as protective against cervical cancer in women, its benefits for males have been less clearly documented at the population level. This large retrospective cohort study examined HPV-related cancer incidence in males ages 9 to 26 who received the…

Dan Manning

Dan Manning

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HPV vaccine cuts cancer risk in men too, large study confirms

HPV vaccine cuts cancer risk in men too, large study confirms

While the HPV vaccine has long been established as protective against cervical cancer in women, its benefits for males have been less clearly documented at the population level. This large retrospective cohort study examined HPV-related cancer incidence in males ages 9 to 26 who received the 9-valent HPV vaccine compared to those who did not.

The results showed a significant association between HPV vaccination and lower rates of HPV-related cancers in young men. HPV can cause cancers of the throat, anus, and penis in males, and this study provides the epidemiological evidence that vaccination reduces these cancer types at the population level.

The findings reinforce current public health recommendations for universal HPV vaccination regardless of sex and add to the case for improving vaccination rates in adolescent males, where uptake has historically lagged behind females.

Key Findings

  • 9-valent HPV vaccine was associated with significantly lower HPV-related cancer risk in males ages 9-26
  • Retrospective cohort study design with large sample size provides population-level evidence
  • Benefit extends to male-specific HPV-related cancers including oropharyngeal, anal, and penile cancers
  • Results add clinical evidence supporting universal male HPV vaccination recommendations
  • Study examined HPV-related cancers across multiple anatomical sites in young men

Implications

This evidence supports continued and expanded HPV vaccination programs for adolescent males. Policymakers and healthcare providers should use these data to improve male vaccination rates, which remain lower than female rates in many countries. Catch-up vaccination programs for young adult males may also be warranted.

Caveats

Retrospective cohort design is subject to confounding — vaccinated individuals may differ from unvaccinated in other health behaviors. Full study details including sample size and follow-up duration not available from abstract. Based on short news summary, not the full research paper. Summary based on abstract only.

Source: MedPage Hematology/Oncology — 2026-04-10

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