Men can get HPV.
Men can get vaccinated too.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men can get the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine up to and including the age of 45.
Book your vaccine.
Gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men can request the vaccination at a sexual health clinic.
Find your nearest clinic here:
Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton, Warrington, East Cheshire: Find your local axess clinic - Axess Sexual Health
Cheshire West and Chester: Sexual Health in Cheshire West and Chester | Sexual Health Hub
Sefton: Sefton Sexual Health Service: (GUM) Clinics in Sefton
St Helens: Sexual Health St Helens | Adults
Wirral: Online Booking Service - Sexual Health Wirral
Why is it important?
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a group of very common viruses that infect the skin and other areas including the genital area, anus, mouth and throat.
There are over 100 types of HPV. Most do not cause any symptoms or problems but some high-risk types can lead to certain types of cancer and others are linked to genital warts.
HPV is very common and men and women can acquire it. It is passed on through all types of sexual contact including skin to skin contact of the genital area; anal, oral or vaginal sex; or sharing of sex toys.
In most cases the infection is cleared by the body within a couple of years and people won’t know they ever had it.
HPV can cause anal cancer, some head and neck cancers, penile cancer in men and cervical, vulval or vaginal cancer in women.
|
HPV causes:
|
For more information about HPV visit Human papillomavirus (HPV) - NHS
Protecting yourself from HPV
The best way to protect yourself from HPV is to have the vaccine. Condoms and dental dams can help reduce the risk but are not as effective as vaccination.
For information on the vaccine and which other groups are eligible see HPV vaccine - NHS
Stopping smoking can also help as not smoking helps your immune system work better to clear any infection.
For support to help you quit smoking, see this Cheshire and Merseyside website.