HPV on men - Blog - Health Corner

Human papillomavirus (HPV) commonly causes cervical cancer, but it does not mean that men will not be infected. HPV can also cause genital warts in men, causing small flesh-colored pellets to grow on the genital area. Patients often ignore its seriousness or may easily confuse it with hemorrhoids. , more likely to transform into anal cancer. The risk of men being infected with HPV reaches 60%. In addition, men’s bodies lack of production of antibodies. The risk of male-to-female infection is five times higher than that of female-to-male transmission.

It is worth noting that the rate of HPV infection among Hong Kong is relatively high in Asia. However, there is currently no medical treatment for HPV infection. The medical community advocates early prevention or inclusion of men in prevention plans, or

vaccination.

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How is HPV transmitted?

HPV is mainly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or through sexual contact. There are currently more than 200 known types of HPV. Regardless of men and women, as long as they have sex, even if they have only one sexual partner, the risk of infection in their lifetime is 80%. According to research, the prevalence rate of HPV infection in male genital organs is 65.1%, with about one in two men being infected.

In addition to the well-known cervical cancer and vaginal cancer, men are also likely to suffer from genital warts, anal cancer and other cancers due to HPV infection. Patients are mainly infected through sexual contact, and the incubation period generally ranges from a few weeks to eight months, and may also exceed a year. Although the body can rely on the immune system to fight off some HPV, studies have found that men are less likely to produce antibodies, making them more susceptible to repeated infections, which in turn increases the risk of cancer.

The transmission rate of HPV from male to female is five times higher than that from female to male, at 12.13%. Men need to consider themselves and their partners’ health and pay more attention to HPV.

How does HPV infection affect men?

Common symptoms in men suffering from genital warts include itchy or painless flesh-colored pellets on the penis, scrotum or anus. Female patients may develop cauliflower-like fleshy pellets around their vulva or vagina, which the patient may not notice. If it grows on the cervix in women, it may cause slight bleeding. In addition, men who suffer from genital warts have a 44% risk of recurrence at least once, and a 22% risk of recurrence twice.

Due to the far-reaching impact of HPV infection, the medical community advocates early prevention. Currently, women can detect cancer early through regular cervical smear screening; however, men are not screened accordingly, but the public should not underestimate the risk of men being infected with HPV.

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