A large international study led by researchers from the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain examined how widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) is among men and what this means for health. The findings were reported in a leading medical publication, Lancet Global Health, emphasizing that HPV infection in men is a key piece of the global cancer puzzle.
HPV is the most common virus transmitted through sexual contact. There are more than 200 distinct HPV types, with about a dozen classified as high risk because they can contribute to cancers. Many people carrying HPV do not show symptoms, which makes surveillance and prevention important. Cervical cancer remains a major concern, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. HPV can also be linked to cancers of the anal region, the throat, and the mouth. In men, HPV often presents as genital warts, yet it can also be linked to cancers of the penis in rare cases.
Historically, the pattern of HPV in women has been well described, while data about how the virus affects men has been less certain. To fill this gap, researchers analyzed 65 studies that involved around 45,000 men. The scope included diverse populations and geographic regions to capture a broad view of HPV in men worldwide.
The study found that about one in three men were infected with at least one HPV type at any given time, and roughly one in five carried a high risk HPV type. The most frequently detected types were HPV-16 and HPV-6, with regional differences noted in HPV prevalence and type distribution. The results underscore that men are an important part of the HPV transmission chain and that vaccination and other preventive measures can impact infection rates in both sexes.
Beyond the evaluation of prevalence, the research highlights how sexual behavior and other risk factors may influence HPV exposure and subsequent cancer risk. In many populations, infection with high risk HPV types is a marker for future cancer risk, reinforcing the importance of vaccination programs, regular screening where applicable, and public health strategies that reduce transmission. The findings point to the value of including men in vaccination campaigns to curb HPV-associated cancers globally, including in North American settings where vaccination coverage has been expanding in recent years.
These assessments align with broader public health goals that emphasize early prevention, routine vaccination for preteens and teens, and ongoing surveillance of HPV-related diseases. By understanding the burden of HPV in men, health systems can better support informed decisions about prevention, screening, and treatment, helping to lower cancer risk on a population level. The study’s conclusions contribute to the growing body of evidence that comprehensive HPV control requires attention to both sexes and multiple cancer sites in order to reduce the overall impact of this virus. (Source attribution: Lancet Global Health study with citations to the included 65 analyses and global data.)