[ Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/cervical-cancer-111-cervical-cancer-you... ]
In the US, when HPV vaccines first became available there was a lot of debate about whether young men should get HPV vaccine, not only because it is associated with other cancers such as throat cancer, but also because it can help protect their partners from HPV and cervical and other cancers in the future. The US CDC recommends it for both girls and boys. (My sons chose to have the vaccine, while many of their friends did not.) While HPV vaccine for boys is not the discussion here, the fact is that the perceived responsibility for decisions regarding sexual health nearly always seem to fall to the girl or woman, regardless of the country or culture. Without sidetracking HIFA's very important discussion regarding cervical cancer, I'm interested in whether there are educational efforts to help men and boys understand their responsibilities in sexual health and decisions. Teaching girls about them is essential, but they're only half the equation. Ultimately, society adopting the belief that men fully share the responsibility for sexual decisions and their consequences will require a shift in cultural assumptions that have existed for centuries, but one needs to start somewhere. The US has just begun to do so, but there's a long way to go.
Best wishes,
Margaret Winker
Margaret Winker, MD
eLearning Program Director
Trustee
World Association of Medical Editors
***
wame.org
WAME eLearning Program
@WAME_editors
www.facebook.com/WAMEmembers
HIFA profile: Margaret Winker is Trustee and Past President of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) and Director of the WAME eLearning Program. She is based in the US. Professional interests: WAME is a global association of editors of peer-reviewed medical journals who seek to foster cooperation and communication among editors, improve editorial standards, promote professionalism in medical editing through education, self-criticism, and self-regulation, and encourage research on the principles and practice of medical editing. margaretwinker AT gmail.com