Only 1 In Every Ten Men Are Aware Of HPV
A new Danish survey of around 24,000 Danish men, proves that only one 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 indicates, that men walks around supposing that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a huge responsibility.
-They do, since HPV is a virus, mostly spread sexually. It is consequently exceptionally 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 study.
The research demonstrates 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 demonstrate that older women have greater knowledge of HPV rather than younger women. Yet this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.
Though there has been more alertness of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not believe that it has reached the men yet.
-When we asked the men, there were a developing alertness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was - at the time - just entering the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.
HPV is first and foremost sexually transmitted. Today all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a free 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 huge need for information efforts towards men. - Not merely concerning sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is exceptionally critical that their awareness is good, when they should consider 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 absolutely needed to have knowledge and understanding out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.
The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.
A new Danish survey of around 24,000 Danish men, proves that only one 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 indicates, that men walks around supposing that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a huge responsibility.
-They do, since HPV is a virus, mostly spread sexually. It is consequently exceptionally 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 study.
The research demonstrates 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 demonstrate that older women have greater knowledge of HPV rather than younger women. Yet this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.
Though there has been more alertness of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not believe that it has reached the men yet.
-When we asked the men, there were a developing alertness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was - at the time - just entering the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.
HPV is first and foremost sexually transmitted. Today all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a free 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 huge need for information efforts towards men. - Not merely concerning sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is exceptionally critical that their awareness is good, when they should consider 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 absolutely needed to have knowledge and understanding out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.
The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.
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For additional information on HPV transmission and what you can do to protect yourself, please visit our website: HPV transmission
