Only 1 in every 10 men know about HPV transmission
A fresh Danish study of around 21,000 Danish men, reveals that only one in every 10 men aged 18 to 45 years, are aware of HPV - the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women.
Evidence proposes, that men walks around supposing that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a immense responsibility.
-They have, because HPV is a virus, first and foremost spread sexually. It is consequently incredibly crucial 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 survey illustrates that few men are informed about about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are 18 or 45 years.
-For women, studies show that older women have greater knowledge of HPV rather than younger women. However this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.
Even though there has been an increasing understanding 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 above all sexually transmitted.
Nowadays all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a gratis HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. In addition, 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 vast need for information efforts towards men.
- Not just with regard to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is extremely important that their knowledge is good, when they should think about whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.
Need for information
American research 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 crucial to have knowledge and understanding out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.
The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.