Where can a male get an HPV vaccination in Los Angeles?
February 23, 2008 11:38 AM Subscribe
Is there a doctor in Los Angeles that will give me, a male, an HPV vaccination?
It's not FDA-approved for men yet, but I've been reading a lot about it and I want to get it.
It's not FDA-approved for men yet, but I've been reading a lot about it and I want to get it.
Legally, no.
Maybe investigate clinical trials of the HPV vaccine for men (not sure if any are underway) and see if you could volunteer.
posted by emd3737 at 1:14 PM on February 23, 2008
Maybe investigate clinical trials of the HPV vaccine for men (not sure if any are underway) and see if you could volunteer.
posted by emd3737 at 1:14 PM on February 23, 2008
Maybe investigate clinical trials of the HPV vaccine for men (not sure if any are underway) and see if you could volunteer.
You might be a control in such a trial, and receive a placebo instead of the vaccine.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:00 PM on February 23, 2008
You might be a control in such a trial, and receive a placebo instead of the vaccine.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:00 PM on February 23, 2008
At present, Gardasil is licensed in the UK for boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 15 and women between the ages of 16 and 26. In the United States, it is only licensed to be administered to girls and women, with the upper age cut-off of 26.
Why? Because not only is there no approved HPV test for men, but HPV is incredibly common. Merck didn't even bother trying to get it approved for women over 26 because their studies indicated that by then, up to half of women already are positive for HPV. Studies indicate that 50 to 75% of sexually active adults have HPV. Some people think that the true figure is closer to 80 to 95% of sexually active adults have had HPV at some point. Gardasil is only effective on people who have never been exposed to HPV. Their reps say that that by 20, 90% of sexually active males have been exposed to HPV and Gardasil would have no effect.
DarwinDan, I noticed that in previous posts you describe yourself as being 25 years old. You are very likely to have already been exposed to HPV, speaking statistically.
That said, Merck is presently conducting more limited trials on boys and men, including subsets of the study specifically aimed at homosexual men, but there are no results that I'm aware of at this time.
GSK just finished a trial including males on their similar HPV drug Cervarix (they only intend to try to get it licensed with girls and women, though), Merck has this trial currently running (but not recruiting right now), they're recruiting HIV+ men for a Gardasil trial here.
Keep an eye on this site for new and upcoming trials- that might get you the vaccine.
Talk to your family doctor in L.A. about your situation. Explain how you feel, why you think you should get the vaccine, and they may choose to administer it to you. It will not be covered by your insurance, but the doctor is entirely within his/her rights to choose to give it to you if they think it is medically warranted. If you don't have a doctor with whom you have a history here in L.A., maybe you could go visit your old doctor? If they know you, they are far more likely to consider prescribing off-label than if you're new to their office.
Otherwise, if you're set on getting the vaccine, consider going to England and finding a doctor there who will administer it.
posted by arnicae at 3:18 PM on February 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Why? Because not only is there no approved HPV test for men, but HPV is incredibly common. Merck didn't even bother trying to get it approved for women over 26 because their studies indicated that by then, up to half of women already are positive for HPV. Studies indicate that 50 to 75% of sexually active adults have HPV. Some people think that the true figure is closer to 80 to 95% of sexually active adults have had HPV at some point. Gardasil is only effective on people who have never been exposed to HPV. Their reps say that that by 20, 90% of sexually active males have been exposed to HPV and Gardasil would have no effect.
DarwinDan, I noticed that in previous posts you describe yourself as being 25 years old. You are very likely to have already been exposed to HPV, speaking statistically.
That said, Merck is presently conducting more limited trials on boys and men, including subsets of the study specifically aimed at homosexual men, but there are no results that I'm aware of at this time.
GSK just finished a trial including males on their similar HPV drug Cervarix (they only intend to try to get it licensed with girls and women, though), Merck has this trial currently running (but not recruiting right now), they're recruiting HIV+ men for a Gardasil trial here.
Keep an eye on this site for new and upcoming trials- that might get you the vaccine.
Talk to your family doctor in L.A. about your situation. Explain how you feel, why you think you should get the vaccine, and they may choose to administer it to you. It will not be covered by your insurance, but the doctor is entirely within his/her rights to choose to give it to you if they think it is medically warranted. If you don't have a doctor with whom you have a history here in L.A., maybe you could go visit your old doctor? If they know you, they are far more likely to consider prescribing off-label than if you're new to their office.
Otherwise, if you're set on getting the vaccine, consider going to England and finding a doctor there who will administer it.
posted by arnicae at 3:18 PM on February 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Just an anecdote: I'm Canadian, I'm in my 30s and I'm 2/3 of the way through my Gardasil course, and it was covered 100% minus $2.00 copay by my insurance, despite the "16-26" business. Just run it by your doctor, you might be surprised by the results.
posted by loiseau at 3:35 PM on February 23, 2008
posted by loiseau at 3:35 PM on February 23, 2008
Legally, no.
That is not true. Off-label uses for drugs are incredibly common. I could go on about how and why this is true, but in case anyone wonders about the legal status of using an approved drug for an indication other than the one it was approved for, here is what the FDA/congress has to say. In translation and in practice, the law governing the FDA acknowledges that once a drug is approved as safe and effective for one use, if other uses are found it is perfectly legal to prescribe the drug for them. The big thing that is prohibited for off-label use is the manufacturer promoting the drug for that use.
Ask around and you should be able to find a physician willing to give you the vaccine; it is not an unreasonable request. Whether or not it is appropriate is something for you and the prescribing physician to decide.
posted by TedW at 8:54 PM on February 23, 2008
That is not true. Off-label uses for drugs are incredibly common. I could go on about how and why this is true, but in case anyone wonders about the legal status of using an approved drug for an indication other than the one it was approved for, here is what the FDA/congress has to say. In translation and in practice, the law governing the FDA acknowledges that once a drug is approved as safe and effective for one use, if other uses are found it is perfectly legal to prescribe the drug for them. The big thing that is prohibited for off-label use is the manufacturer promoting the drug for that use.
Ask around and you should be able to find a physician willing to give you the vaccine; it is not an unreasonable request. Whether or not it is appropriate is something for you and the prescribing physician to decide.
posted by TedW at 8:54 PM on February 23, 2008
There's a doctor in Atlanta who is active in the gay community who is vaccinating men off-label. If all else fails, I suppose you could send him an email and ask if he could recommend someone in LA? Have you asked any local doctors who specialize in gay men's health?
posted by Violet Hour at 11:26 PM on February 23, 2008
posted by Violet Hour at 11:26 PM on February 23, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by drpynchon at 1:04 PM on February 23, 2008