HPV in Men: Prevalence, Transmission Dynamics, and Health Implications

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a culmination of over 200 known viruses. Most of these strains of viruses do not have any negative effect on humans. There are a handful of known strains that are high-risk and if infected, could lead to common warts, genital warts, or even cancer. Human Papilloma Virus effects both men and women but research has a focus on women. In 2019, HPV caused an estimated 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70,000 cancer cases in men (WHO, 2024). There are many ways to protect oneself from infection, for example, limiting sexual partners, using protection such as condoms, and getting vaccinated. Currently, there are two vaccinations available for women and only one for men. Men rarely show symptoms and there is no way to test for the infection. With the lack of research and knowledge, most men are not vaccinated for Human Papilloma Virus. The transmission, prevalence, and health implications for Human Papilloma Virus in men is extremely under researched. The goal of this publication is to review the global and regional estimates of the overall, type-specific, and age-specific prevalence of genital HPV DNA in general populations of men. Hopefully, this paper will help drive more research to be conducted to fully understand and stop the spread of infection in men, which could aid in reducing the risk of developing penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer.