Even If There Has Been More Alertness Men Still Know Too Little About HPV

On November 30, 2009 in Uncategorized

Only 1 in every 10 men know about HPV transmission

A fresh Danish study among almost 20,000 Danish men, reveals that only 1 in every 10 men aged 18 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 proposes, that men walks around thinking that the HPV virus has nothing to do with them. But men actually do have a big responsibility.

-They do, since HPV is a virus, mainly spread sexually. It is therefore very valuable 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 main author of the research.

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

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

Even though there has been an increasing awareness of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not believe 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 mainly sexually transmitted
Nowadays all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a without charge 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 big need for information efforts towards men.
- Not merely with regard to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is exceptionally critical that their information 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 purely vital to have knowledge and information out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

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