Finally...

[joreth]

Some data on HPV in men!

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/44684313-9869-4FE9-BFE4-2B7CB5859216.asp

This is an Australian study (and a small population size), so numbers may differ in the US, but it's important to see that, although the incident rate of cancer from HPV is relatively low, HPV still affects men.   Between anal cancer, penile cancer, and all the various oral cancers, HPV affects men too, and this is one of the few studies that focus on the male population.  With HIV-negative men carrying a mean average of 4 different strains of HPV concurrently, this is something we should be concerned about.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:  this is not just a woman's disease.  This affects everyone.  And even if it did only affect women, men are carrying it and passing it on.  Everyone needs to get vaccinated, not just the young girls, and we need more and better screening processes for men (and women too, but at least we have the pap smear).

Of course, once word gets out to the policy makers that *men* might be in danger, we just might see a bigger push for better testing methods, more vaccines, and more insurance coverage.  Oh yes, the double standard is alive and well, but this time we might be able to make it work for us instead of against us (us being everyone, not just women, because when we discriminate based on gender, everyone loses no matter which side appears to be getting shafted most).

Comments

[dorklord07.livejournal.com]

Oh, silly Australia, doing tests and using a p-value of .0001. Scientific rigor? PHAH! We Americans don't need that!

In all of the data analysis I've done in America, a p-value of .05 is considered sufficient to conclude statistical significance (though .01 is preferred). Tits is fucking ridiculous.