A recent study published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology has found that high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) may pose a threat to sperm quality and male fertility. The research, conducted by Argentinian scientists, discovered that these strains, which are linked to cancer, were more common in a study population of men and appeared to suppress key components of the immune system in the male genital tract.
This suppression could hinder the body’s ability to clear HPV, which typically takes six months to a year after infection, and increase the risk of other infections that may compromise male fertility. The study’s senior author, Professor Virginia Rivero, noted that individuals often carry HPV in the male genital tract without symptoms or signs.
Previous research has found that 21% of infertile men had HPV-positive semen, compared to 8% in the general male population. Men with HPV in their semen had three-fold greater odds of being infertile than those without the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HPV vaccination for all boys and girls at 11 or 12 years old. With over 200 known strains of HPV, awareness of its potential impact on male fertility is crucial.
A vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) has been available since 2006, initially recommended for girls and later expanded to boys in 2011. The current version of the vaccine protects against nine high-risk HPV strains, including those that cause genital warts, and is administered in a two- or three-dose series.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HPV vaccination for all boys and girls at 11 or 12 years old, with the option to receive it as early as age 9. Additionally, individuals through age 26 who were not previously fully vaccinated are also recommended to receive the vaccine.
A recent CDC study found that 65% of adolescents born in 2007 were fully vaccinated for HPV by age 15, compared to 60% of those born in 2008. The CDC attributes this difference to disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic, which began when the younger group turned 12.
While vaccination at older ages offers less benefit due to increased likelihood of prior HPV exposure, the CDC suggests that individuals up to age 45 may still consult their doctors about potential vaccination. Experts consider the vaccine to be exceptionally safe, and it remains a crucial tool in preventing HPV-related diseases.
