Approximately half the male population is carrying genital infection from human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmissible virus, claims a new study.
Although, HPV is best known for causing cervical cancer, the second most common malignancy in women worldwide, certain strains of the virus can also a cause anal, penile, head, and neck cancers.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Anna Giuliano, chairwoman of the Department of Cancer Epidemiology at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, stated, "The incidence of genital HPV infection in men was high and relatively constant across age groups in Brazil, Mexico and the U.S.A.
"The results from this study provide much needed data about the incidence and clearance of HPV infection in men."
Health of 1159 men monitored
The scientists analyzed the health of 1159 men, aged 18 to 70, from Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.
The study subjects who had no history of HIV or cancer were tested for the progression of HPV infection every six months for a little more than two years.
It was noted that each year about six percent of men became newly affected with HPV 16, the strain most commonly linked with cervical cancer in women.
Additional findings of the study showed that men who had 50 or more female partners were 2.4 times more likely to have cancer causing HPV infection compared to men with one or no partners.
Also the risk of contracting the infection was 2.6 times higher for men who had at least three male sex partners as opposed to those with no recent partners.
Dr. Maura Gillison of The Ohio State University stated, "The single greatest risk factor for HPV infection is sexual contact with someone who has HPV infection.
"The greater the number of partners you have, the higher the probability that one of those partners is HPV-positive."
Call for boys to get HPV vaccine
HPV vaccine is recommended for young females and is quite common. In spite of the fact that HPV is easily transmitted from men to women, male vaccination though available remains relatively uncommon.
The newly released statistics strengthen the case for vaccinating boys against HPV, which could effectively curb some of the cancers.
Dr. Anna Giuliano stated, "The greater the proportion of the population that is vaccinated, both males and females, the greater the total reduction in infection in the community.
"Communities with higher proportions of vaccinated individuals will experience more dramatic and faster declines in both infection and diseases caused by HPV infections."
The study that was funded by The National Cancer Institute, appears online in the journal 'Lancet.'
Although, HPV is best known for causing cervical cancer, the second most common malignancy in women worldwide, certain strains of the virus can also a cause anal, penile, head, and neck cancers.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Anna Giuliano, chairwoman of the Department of Cancer Epidemiology at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, stated, "The incidence of genital HPV infection in men was high and relatively constant across age groups in Brazil, Mexico and the U.S.A.
"The results from this study provide much needed data about the incidence and clearance of HPV infection in men."
Health of 1159 men monitored
The scientists analyzed the health of 1159 men, aged 18 to 70, from Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.
The study subjects who had no history of HIV or cancer were tested for the progression of HPV infection every six months for a little more than two years.
It was noted that each year about six percent of men became newly affected with HPV 16, the strain most commonly linked with cervical cancer in women.
Additional findings of the study showed that men who had 50 or more female partners were 2.4 times more likely to have cancer causing HPV infection compared to men with one or no partners.
Also the risk of contracting the infection was 2.6 times higher for men who had at least three male sex partners as opposed to those with no recent partners.
Dr. Maura Gillison of The Ohio State University stated, "The single greatest risk factor for HPV infection is sexual contact with someone who has HPV infection.
"The greater the number of partners you have, the higher the probability that one of those partners is HPV-positive."
Call for boys to get HPV vaccine
HPV vaccine is recommended for young females and is quite common. In spite of the fact that HPV is easily transmitted from men to women, male vaccination though available remains relatively uncommon.
The newly released statistics strengthen the case for vaccinating boys against HPV, which could effectively curb some of the cancers.
Dr. Anna Giuliano stated, "The greater the proportion of the population that is vaccinated, both males and females, the greater the total reduction in infection in the community.
"Communities with higher proportions of vaccinated individuals will experience more dramatic and faster declines in both infection and diseases caused by HPV infections."
The study that was funded by The National Cancer Institute, appears online in the journal 'Lancet.'
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