Papillomavirus: more than a third of men in the world are infected

Almost a third of men worldwide (31%) carry some form of human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet Global Health dated September 2023. To study the prevalence of these virus, the scientists conducted a meta-analysis of 65 studies in 35 countries. While most papillomaviruses are asymptomatic, 21% of men are infected with high-risk HPV, which can cause cancer in particular.

Papillomaviruses are the most common sexually transmitted infection. Some viruses in this family can cause cervical cancer in women. But the authors of the study point out that the epidemiology of these viruses is much less studied and documented in men than in women, while they can also be victims.

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For them, high-risk HPV will instead manifest as warts on the anus or genitals, “leading to significant morbidity and higher transmission rates.” In rare cases, it can also cause cancer of the anus, penis or oropharynx. Even asymptomatic, a carrier man can still transmit HPV to his or her sexual partner.

The study shows that the prevalence of HPV is highest between the ages of 25 and 29 in men, but already “high” from the 15-19 age group. For the scientists, this “suggests that young men are infected quickly after their first sexual intercourse”. The authors add that these figures "show that sexually active men, regardless of age, are an important reservoir of HPV infection" and therefore consider it necessary to include them in prevention strategies.

Until the end of 2019, vaccination against papillomaviruses was only recommended for young girls in France, before the High Authority for Health (HAS) recommended including boys. Vaccination is now recommended for pre-teens aged 11 to 14, regardless of gender, and is "all the more effective [when] they have not yet been exposed to the risk of infection", underlines Security social, i.e. before their first sexual intercourse.

The vaccine can also be done “catch-up” from 15 to 19 years old, and even up to 26 years old in the case of men who have sex with men.

In February, Emmanuel Macron announced for the start of the school year the generalization of voluntary vaccination campaigns against HPV in college, after an experiment in the Grand Est. Pupils, girls and boys, in fifth grade will be able to receive the vaccine if their parents wish.