Only One In Every Ten Men Have Knowledge Of HPV

On July 30, 2009 in Uncategorized

Only 1 in every 10 men know about HPV transmission

A fresh Danish study of just about 22,000 Danish men, illustrates that only 1 in every ten men aged 18 to 45 years, are informed about HPV - the virus which for men can cause penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women.

Evidence proposes, that men walks around supposing that the HPV virus has nothing to do with them. But men actually do have a immense responsibility.

-They do, as HPV is a virus, mainly transmitted sexually. It is therefore awfully vital 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 demonstrates that the minority of men are aware of about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are 18 or 45 years.

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

Even if there has been further understanding of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not think that it has reached the men yet.

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

HPV is mostly sexually transmitted.
These days all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a free HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Furthermore, 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 very vital that their understanding is good, when they should think about whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.

Need for information
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 required to have knowledge and awareness out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

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