Human papillomavirus prevalence among Australian men aged 18–35 years in 2015–2018 according to vaccination status and sexual preference

Abstract

Background Australia introduced a national HPV vaccination program for girls in 2007 and boys in 2013, achieving high coverage in both populations. We assessed HPV prevalence among men who have sex with women (MSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 18–35 years and examined program effects by vaccination status. Methods Men recruited between 2015–2018 self-collected a penile or intra-anal swab for HPV genotyping. HPV vaccination status was confirmed with the National Register. HPV prevalence was examined by age groups and vaccination status. Results Of 1,625 men included (median age 27 years; IQR [23–30]), 231 (14.2%) were vaccinated, and 1,370 (84.3%) were unvaccinated. Among 984 MSW, the prevalence of quadrivalent vaccine-targeted HPV types (6,11,16,18) was 10.6% (95%CI: 8.7–12.8) in unvaccinated and 10.7% (5.7–19.3%) in vaccinated men (p=0.96). Prevalence was lowest in the youngest age groups regardless of vaccination status. Among MSM, quadrivalent HPV type prevalence was 40.3% (36.0–44.8%) in unvaccinated and 29.9% (23.1–37.8%) in vaccinated men (p=0.02). In unvaccinated MSM, prevalence was high regardless of age, whereas among vaccinated MSM, prevalence was lowest in the youngest age-group (p=0.001). Among those with confirmed doses, quadrivalent HPV types were detected in 0% (0–7.7%; n=46) of men who had their first dose at 13–19 years and 37.2% (27.5–47.8%; n=94) of those who received their first dose at 20 years or older. Conclusion Our data demonstrates the importance of universal adolescent HPV vaccination to ensure MSM receive the same benefits as MSW.