HPV Vaccination for Men: What It Protects Against, and What It Does Not

Last updated: August 28, 2026

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Men ask about HPV vaccination for two reasons: because a partner has had an abnormal smear, or because they have had genital warts. Both are good reasons, and the second comes with a misunderstanding worth clearing up immediately — the vaccine prevents, it does not treat.

A correction to the strain list published here

The earlier version of this article listed the nine-valent vaccine as covering HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 53 and 58, both in the body and in its own FAQ. That is incorrect. The ninth type is 52, not 53, and it has been corrected throughout.

• Four-valent vaccine: HPV 6, 11, 16, 18.
• Nine-valent vaccine: HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 — the same four plus five further high-risk types.

The comparison itself is now largely historical: the nine-valent vaccine has replaced the four-valent one in most markets, which are no longer distributing the older product. In practice the question is usually whether to be vaccinated at all rather than which to choose.

Types 16 and 18 alone account for the majority of cervical cancers; adding 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 raises coverage of cancer-causing strains to roughly nine in ten. Types 6 and 11 cause most genital warts and are in both vaccines.

Why men should care

HPV vaccination is usually discussed as a women’s issue, and men often assume they are being vaccinated altruistically. They are not.

• Genital warts — unpleasant, recurrent, and largely preventable.
• Anal cancer, the risk of which is substantially higher in men who have sex with men and in anyone immunosuppressed.
• Cancers of the mouth and throat, which are rising and are now more common in men than cervical cancer is in women in some countries.
• Penile cancer, which is rare but strongly HPV-associated in a proportion of cases.

Protection is greatest before any sexual exposure, which is why programmes target adolescents. That does not make vaccination pointless later — see below.

Doses, and by what age

• Starting under 15: two doses, several months apart.
• Starting at 15 or older, or if immunosuppressed: three doses over six months.
• Licensed up to age 45, and worth discussing individually beyond the teenage years rather than assuming the window has closed.

The earlier version cited a study suggesting a single dose gives around 61% protection. Single-dose schedules are a genuine area of research and are used in some national programmes, but that figure should not be read as a reason to take one dose and stop. Complete the course you start.

What the vaccine cannot do

None of this was in the earlier version, and it is what men most often get wrong.

• It does not treat warts you already have, and it does not clear an infection you already carry. Existing warts are treated separately, and vaccination alongside that is about the types you have not met.
• It does not cover every cancer-causing type, which is why it reduces rather than eliminates risk.
• It does not replace cervical screening. A vaccinated partner still needs her smears — a point worth taking home, because couples do sometimes conclude otherwise.
• It protects against nothing else. Condoms remain necessary for other infections, and reduce but do not eliminate HPV transmission, since HPV spreads by skin contact beyond the area a condom covers.

If you have already been exposed

Vaccination still has value, because it protects against the types you have not encountered — and almost nobody has been exposed to all nine. The benefit is smaller than vaccinating before any exposure, and it is not zero, which is the honest way to put it to a man in his thirties wondering whether he has left it too late.

Side effects

Also absent from the earlier version. Soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site are common; headache, mild fever and tiredness occur. Fainting shortly after the injection is well recognised, particularly in adolescents, which is why you are asked to sit for about fifteen minutes afterwards rather than leaving immediately. Serious reactions are rare, and the vaccine has an extensive safety record across many years and many millions of doses.

It is not given during pregnancy — not because harm has been shown, but because it has not been studied there.

Symptoms that need assessment rather than vaccination

In an emergency in Thailand, call 1669.

• Lumps or growths on the penis, scrotum or around the anus — these need examining and treating, and vaccination does not remove them.
• An ulcer, persistent white patch or non-healing sore on the penis, which needs assessment rather than watching.
• A lump in the neck, persistent sore throat, hoarseness or difficulty swallowing lasting more than a few weeks — assessed by an ENT specialist.
• Anal bleeding, pain or a lump, particularly in anyone at higher risk.

Frequently Asked Questions About HPV Vaccination

Which strains does the nine-valent vaccine cover?

HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. An earlier version of this article listed 53 instead of 52, which was an error and has been corrected. The four-valent vaccine covered 6, 11, 16 and 18 and has largely been replaced.

Should men be vaccinated?

Yes, and not only for a partner’s sake. It reduces genital warts and the risk of anal, oropharyngeal and penile cancers. Protection is greatest before any sexual exposure, which is why adolescent programmes exist, but it remains worth discussing later.

How many doses do I need?

Two doses if starting under 15, three over six months if starting at 15 or older or if immunosuppressed. It is licensed up to age 45. Complete the course rather than stopping after one dose.

I already have genital warts. Will the vaccine clear them?

No. The vaccine prevents infection with types you have not encountered; it does not treat existing warts or clear an existing infection. Warts are treated separately, and vaccination alongside that is about future protection.

I have already been exposed to HPV. Is it too late?

No. Vaccination still protects against the types you have not met, and almost nobody has been exposed to all nine. The benefit is smaller than vaccinating beforehand and it is not nothing.

Does my partner still need cervical screening?

Yes. Vaccination reduces risk substantially but does not cover every cancer-causing type, so screening continues on the normal schedule.

Arranging a consultation

Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone sees patients at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters and at Samitivej Sriracha Hospital in Chonburi on 088-022-1445. If you have had genital warts or an abnormal result in a partner, bring the details — they change what is worth discussing beyond the vaccine itself.

Bangkok Hospital Telemedicine is available for patients who cannot attend in person, including international patients — arrange it in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only. Enquiries about cost and vaccine availability are answered by the hospital, not by this website.

Disclaimer: This content is written and reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, a board-certified urologist at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters, and is intended for education only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or a prescription for any individual, and no advice, diagnosis or prescription is given through personal messaging channels or social media. Dr. Soarawee operates no public social media account; any account offering private consultation in his name is fraudulent. In an emergency in Thailand, call 1669.