As cervical cancer rates fall, HPV is causing more throat and mouth cancers in men — why?

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) has drastically reduced cervical cancer rates among women who got the vaccine. But as doctors celebrate that news, they're warning of an ongoing uptick in other HPV-related cancers that is mostly affecting men.

Throat and mouth cancers, broadly known as oropharyngeal cancers, linked to HPV are on the rise, mostly in middle-aged and older men, data suggests. These cancers affect the back of the throat along the tonsils and the base of the tongue. A 2023 study of the U.S. found that cases of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer had more than tripled between 1988 and 2004, with the bulk of that trend driven by male patients. This trend continues worldwide today, with one Danish study finding another tripling between 2000 and 2017.

So what's driving this trend, and what can be done?

How is HPV related to cancer?

HPV is an umbrella term that includes many viruses; those that cause cancer are known as "high-risk HPV." These high-risk strains Read Entire Article