Only 1 In Every 10 Men Have Knowledge Of HPV

A new Danish survey with approximately 21,000 Danish men, reveals that only one in every 10 men aged’ to 45 years, are informed about HPV - the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women. Evidence implies, that men walks around thinking that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a huge responsibility.

-They do, because HPV is a virus, first and foremost transmitted sexually. It is for that reason really important that men are aware, that they are carriers in relation to women and cervical cancer and that they can acquire 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 foremost author of the study.

The survey illustrates that a small amount of men are informed about about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are’ or 45 years.

-For women, research reveal that older women are more aware of HPV rather than younger women. Still this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.

Even if there has been more knowledge of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not believe that it has reached the men yet.

-When we asked the men, there were an incipient alertness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was - at the time - just come on the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.

HPV is mainly sexually transmitted. At present all girls born in Denmark in’96 or later are offered a gratis HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Furthermore, 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 concerning sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is extremely important that their knowledge is good, when they should consider whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.

Need for information American research 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 needed to have knowledge and information out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

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