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Survey Reveals Common Misconceptions About Human Papillomavirus

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 11, 2025.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, March 11, 2025 -- The majority of people are unaware that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is more common among men and is associated with rising rates of cancers that directly impact men, according to the results of a survey released by The Ohio State University.

The online survey, commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, was conducted between Feb. 7 and 9, 2025, and included 1,005 respondents.

Survey results show nearly half of respondents (45 percent) did not know if HPV was linked to cancers beyond cervical, even though it is also tied to cancers that affect the tonsils, base of tongue, throat, neck, esophagus, anus, and genitals. Furthermore, 42 percent of respondents incorrectly believed HPV was more common in women. Four in 10 believed that if you are infected with HPV, you will have symptoms, even though many do not have symptoms until after they develop cancer.

"It can take years or even decades for the genetic changes caused by HPV to take effect and transform into cancer," Matthew Old, M.D., from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a statement. "Once exposed, there are currently no treatments for HPV infections, and many who are unvaccinated unknowingly carry and spread high-risk strains of the virus. That's why vaccination is so important."

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted March 2025

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