While there is no cure for HPV, the cause of genital warts -- and ultimately, it's believed, the cause of cervical and anorectal cancers -- there is a vaccine product to protect against infection with the virus. Gardasil has been approved in several countries for the prevention of genital warts and cervical cancer, but only in women and girls, including since 2006 in the United States for use with 9- to 26-year-olds.
However, drugmaker Merck submitted an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January for approval to allow use of Gardasil to prevent HPV infection in men and boys. A decision on that application is expected by the end of this year.
