Only One In Every 10 Men Know About HPV

A recent Danish study with roughly 24,000 Danish men, reveals that only 1 in every 10 men aged’ to 45 years, are aware of HPV – the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women. Results proposes, that men walks around supposing that the HPV virus has nothing to do with them. But men actually do have a great responsibility.

-They do, for the reason that HPV is a virus, above all spread sexually. It is for that reason extremely essential that men are aware, that they are carriers in relation to women and cervical cancer and that they can develop for example, penile cancer, anal cancer and certain forms of cancer of the head and neck region, “says researcher Ann Nielsen from the Danish Cancer Fighting, who is the major author of the study.

The study shows that the minority of men are informed about about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are’ or 45 years.

-For women, research prove that older women have greater knowledge of HPV rather than younger women. Yet this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.

Although there has been an increasing alertness of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not think that it has reached the men yet.

-When we asked the men, there were an initial awareness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was – at the time – just entering the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.

HPV is primarily sexually transmitted. These days all girls born in Denmark in’96 or later are offered a free of charge HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. In addition, all girls born in’93,’94 and’95 received the offer of free vaccination. So far Danish boys will not be offered free vaccination.

Ann Nielsen points out that there really is a big need for information efforts towards men. – Not simply in relation to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience – fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is awfully essential that their knowledge is good, when they should consider whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.

Need for information American studies have also shown, that an increased focus on HPV means an increased knowledge. In the U.S., the number of anal cancer and head and neck cancer incidents has grown.

-We estimate that the same applies in Denmark. And we must not lose sight of the genital warts – something that many men and women suffer from. We estimate that around 10 percent of all men, at some time in their lives, become infected with genital warts.

Therefore, it is completely necessary to have knowledge and understanding out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

For supplementary information on HPV transmission and what you can do to protect yourself, please visit our website: HPV transmission