HPV Infection Analysis

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted disease that affects men and women. “In 2005, the prevalence of HPV infection among women was 2 to 44% around the world.”1 HPV infection is a necessary but not a sufficient cause of cervical cancer. “Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, with almost 80% of cases occurring in developing countries.”2 The infection with HPV is also related to other cancer (anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, oropharyngeal). There have been a big awareness campaign on HPV infection and the risk of cervical cancer in the past years. With the discovery of two vaccines (Gardasil in 2006 and Cervarix in 2009), all young women were invited to receive the vaccine and Gardasil is now offered to every girl in Quebec during their fourth grade of primary school. However, HPV infection also affects men. Why don’t we hear more about it? …show more content…
A meta-analysis published in 2014, found that “HPV prevalence is around 30.9% among men in high-risk population versus 12.4% in men in the general population.”3 Men infected with HPV have higher risk of developing anal cancer. Even if it’s a rare cancer, “the incidence of anal cancer is increasing in United States and in other countries.”4 Men who have sex with men (MSM) have the highest risk of anal cancer and “the incidence among HIV-positive is almost twice as the HIV-negative MSM.”5 Men infected with HPV are also at higher risk of penile and some type of oropharyngeal cancer. HPV infection is linked to different cancer in men but it also has a direct impact on women’ health. “Male HPV infection contributes to infection and subsequent cervical disease in women.”6 As HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease, “men’s sexual behavior is in itself a risk factor for cervical