- An international team of scientists estimates that almost one in three men in the world carries at least one variant of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
- It was determined that one in every five men carries one or more types of HPV that can cause various cancers.
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that can trigger an embarrassing round of genital warts—which, depending on your luck, may be harmless—or cause cancer.
Although significant work has been done to estimate the distribution and impact of HPV among women, not much is known about the spread of HPV among the male population worldwide. Therefore, this study conducted by the Spanish research team is very important.
Researchers uncovered these striking statistics by reviewing studies on the prevalence of male HPV genital warts published between January 1, 1995 and June 1, 2022.
After examining the figures, it was determined that 31 percent of the male population worldwide had any type of HPV, while 21 percent carried HPV variations that had a high risk of turning into cancer. It also noted that “HPV prevalence is high in young adults, reaches a maximum between ages 25 and 29, and then stabilizes or decreases slightly.”
Women can find out if they have HPV during a “pap smear test,” in which a medical professional takes a sample of the cervix. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unfortunately, there is currently no test to detect HPV for men.
Fortunately, there is an HPV vaccine recommended for children ages 11-12, according to the CDC. This vaccine can be given starting from the age of 9 until the age of 45. But men have historically lagged behind women in getting vaccinated against HPV.
The importance of the study is that it reveals the scope of HPV’s impact on men, as well as underlining that the burden of HPV prevention should not fall on women.
“These estimates highlight the importance of including men in comprehensive HPV prevention strategies to reduce HPV-related morbidity and mortality in men and ultimately achieve elimination of cervical cancer or other HPV-related diseases,” the researchers wrote. he writes.
Compiled by: Görkem Süner
