Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is common in women and frequently causes cervical cancer, can also affect men, a health expert said.
According to Martha Millar-Aquino, vice president of the Philippine Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology, efforts to reduce the prevalence of HPV-related cancers and control HPV infection must include the male community.
"Ang HPV sa lalake, meron siyang external genital warts, anal genital warts, cancer of the penis, cancer of the throat and cancer of anal canal," she said.
Male’s risk
Nearly one out of three men over the age of 15 have at least one genital HPV type, according to a 2023 World Health Organization study.
Young individuals had a high HPV prevalence, which peaked between the ages of 25 and 29 and then steadied or slightly declined after that.
Additionally, one out of every five males has one or more "high-risk or oncogenic" HPV strains.
School-based prevention
The Department of Health (DOH) declared that it would incorporate HPV vaccinations into its school-based immunization program, which will begin in public schools across the country in October, to combat the risks posed by HPV.
Although the DOH is thinking of giving more HPV vaccinations to male students, it stated that its program would give preference to female students since they are more likely to get cervical cancer as a result of HPV infection.
Vaccination and safe sex practices, such as wearing multiple layers of protection during sexual contact, can help avoid the infection.
