Only 1 in every 10 men know about HPV transmission

A new Danish study with nearly 24,000 Danish men, illustrates that only one in every ten men aged 18 to 45 years, have knowledge of HPV - the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women.

Results indicates, that men walks around thinking that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a great responsibility.

-They do, as HPV is a virus, above all transmitted sexually. It is consequently awfully 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 major author of the research.

The study illustrates that few men are aware of about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are 18 or 45 years.

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

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

-When we interviewed 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 above all sexually transmitted.
Nowadays all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a at no cost HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Moreover, 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 great need for information efforts towards men.
- Not simply related to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is really essential 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 completely vital to have knowledge and awareness out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.