DR CHRISTIAN
THE CLINIC
Q & A
Our health expert Dr Christian Jessen answers your medical queries
GOT A PROBLEM, WANT ANSWERS? • EMAIL DRCHRISTIAN@ATTITUDE.CO.UK
Q: What are the symptoms of HPV and should gay men get the vaccine to prevent unnecessary worrying? Jonathan, Leeds
A: Should gay men get the vaccine? Yes they should! There are around 150 di? erent strains of HPV which can cause no problems at all or it could result in warts on various parts of the body, right through to cellular changes that can in the long run lead to cancers of the mouth, throat, anus and penis. If you have had multiple sexual partners over your lifetime some people argue that the HPV vaccine will be less e? ective as you have already been exposed to a number of those viruses. I still think as a gay man it is worth looking into, and if you are a HIV positive gay man then it is definitely worth having. Although the vaccine is only for around 6 or more di? erent species it does offer a lot of cross protection against lots of others as well. The HPV vaccine is not currently o? ered to men on the NHS but can be completed privately at a cost of around £150 per injection of which there are three.