HPV Vaccine Can Also Save Mens Life
Only One In Every 10 Men Know About HPV
A new Danish study with roughly 20,000 Danish men, reveals that only 1 in every ten men aged’ to 45 years, are informed about HPV – the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women. Results proposes, that men walks around thinking that the HPV virus has nothing to do with them. But men actually do have a immense responsibility.
-They do, since HPV is a virus, mainly spread sexually. It is for that reason very essential 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 foremost author of the research.
The research proves that few men are aware of about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are’ or 45 years.
-For women, studies show that older women are more aware of HPV rather than younger women. Still this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.
Though there has been more knowledge of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not feel that it has reached the men yet.
-When we asked the men, there were an initial knowledge 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’96 or later are offered a free HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Furthermore, all girls born in’93,’94 and’95 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 only with regard to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience – fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is exceedingly vital that their understanding is high, when they should think about 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 required to have knowledge and information out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.
The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.
For additional information on HPV transmission and what you can do to protect yourself, please visit our website: HPV transmission
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