Gay men taking
HPV vaccine

Gay and bisexual men in San Francisco are signing up to take Gardasil, the vaccine intended to prevent the human papillomavirus in women. Men are asking their doctors for the vaccine, hoping it will prevent anal and penile cancer, which can also be caused by HPV, Jason Riggs, spokesman for the STOP AIDS Project, told KPIX in San Francisco.

"The prevalence of anal cancer among gay and bisexual men is very high," Riggs said in the report. "So that's why some people are looking at this as a possible preventive cure for anal cancer and HPV that causes anal cancer."

According to KPIX, anal cancer occurs among gay and bisexual men at a rate 35 times higher than that of the general population, occurring more in those infected with HIV.

However, concerns have been raised over the validity of men taking the drug, since it is not yet clear whether the drug is as effective for men as it is for women. (The Advocate)