Gardasil Approved to Prevent Genital Warts in Males

MONDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved use of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil to prevent genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 in boys and men, ages 9 through 26.

Each year, about two of every 1,000 men in the United States are newly diagnosed with genital warts, the FDA said.

Gardasil currently is approved for use in girls and women ages 9 through 26 to prevent cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18; precancerous lesions caused by types 6, 11, 16, and 18; and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11, the agency said.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and most genital warts are caused by HPV infection.

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