Only 1 In Every Ten Men Are Aware Of HPV

A fresh Danish study of nearly 24,000 Danish men, demonstrates that only one in every ten men aged 18 to 45 years, have heard of HPV - the virus which for men can cause penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women. Evidence implies, that men walks around believing that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a big responsibility.

-They do, since HPV is a virus, mainly transmitted sexually. It is for that reason really valuable that men are aware, that they are carriers in relation to women and cervical cancer and that they can get 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 survey.

The study proves that the minority of men have heard of about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are 18 or 45 years.

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

While there has been more awareness of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not think that it has reached the men yet.

-When we interviewed the men, there were a developing awareness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was - at the time - just come on the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.

HPV is primarily sexually transmitted. At the moment all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a at no cost HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Additionally, all girls born in 1993, 1994 and 1995 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 large need for information efforts towards men. - Not only related to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is exceedingly important that their awareness is good, when they should consider whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.

Need for knowledge 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 simply necessary to have knowledge and understanding out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

Tags: Cancer

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