Nearly Half of US Men Have Genital HPV Infections

[WhiteTara]

http://www.livescience.com/57564-men-genital-hpv-infections.html

Nearly half of American men have a genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but a much smaller percentage have received the HPV vaccine, according to a new study.

The results show that about 45 percent of U.S. men under age 60 have a genital HPV infection, which translates to about 35 million men, the researchers said. What's more, 25 percent of men were infected with so-called "high-risk" types of HPV, which, compared with low-risk types of HPV, are more strongly linked with cancer. Only about 11 percent of U.S. men had received the HPV vaccine, according to the study, published today (Jan. 19) in the journal JAMA Oncology.

And surprisingly, the researchers found a high rate of HPV infection in older men. In fact, the highest rate of HPV infection seen in the study was among those ages 58 to 59 (the oldest age group in the study). This higher rate of HPV infection in older men contrasts with what's been seen in women: The HPV infection rate is lower in older in woman than in younger ones. [Men vs. Women: Our Key Physical Differences Explained]

The "consistent, high infection rate among all age groups in men was very striking, because this was not expected," said Dr. Jasmine Han, who led study and is the chief of gynecologic oncology at the Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. Thank you for distracting me from

Cheeto for a few minutes. I would much rather read about HPV than the Orange Anus.

But seriously, interesting article. Thanks.

[WhiteTara]

2. Thanks for letting me distract you

it was a distraction for me too.