HPV Prevention in Men: A Narrative Review of Strategies, Risks, and Public Health Implications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, impacting both males and females. In men, HPV causes genital warts, more than 90% of anal cancers, and 60% of oropharyngeal cancers. Given that one in three men are infected with HPV worldwide, there is a pressing need for enhanced public health strategies focusing on prevention. This comprehensive narrative review presents an overview of HPV in men, key risk factors, and primary prevention in men. The most effective preventive measure for HPV in males is vaccination. Males at high risk for HPV include those who smoke, have human immunodeficiency virus, consume alcohol, engage with multiple sexual partners, fail to use barrier methods, and are unvaccinated. HPV vaccinations prevent most HPV-associated diseases; however, numerous barriers to vaccine uptake remain, including misconceptions that men do not benefit from vaccination, safety concerns, limited accessibility, and inconsistent vaccine recommendations.