No One is Safe:
A New Study Shows that Male Virgins are also at High Risk for HPV Infection
Though human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are typically thought of as being spread by sexual contact, this isn’t the only route of transmission. Fomites, non-sexual skin contact, and vertical transmission are all possible routes of HPV infection that require little to no sexual contact. The degree to which these routes are involved in HPV infection is currently unknown, but a new study out of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center has shed some light on the prevalence of non-sexual HPV transmission.
The study looked at adult men who denied having ever participated in penetrative-sex. Researchers tested these men for HPV, and then followed them for 24 months, testing for HPV at regular intervals. Tho Though they found that virgin men who had initiated sex (VISs) had a higher of HPV infection during this time period than virgin men who had not initiated sex (VNISs), but surprisingly VNISs still had a significant rate of infection. 45.5% of HPV negative VISs were infected with HPV at the end of 24 months versus 28.8% of HPV negative VNISs.
The study looked at adult men who denied having ever participated in penetrative-sex. Researchers tested these men for HPV, and then followed them for 24 months, testing for HPV at regular intervals. Tho Though they found that virgin men who had initiated sex (VISs) had a higher of HPV infection during this time period than virgin men who had not initiated sex (VNISs), but surprisingly VNISs still had a significant rate of infection. 45.5% of HPV negative VISs were infected with HPV at the end of 24 months versus 28.8% of HPV negative VNISs.
While abstinence did seem to offer some protection against HPV, a substantial number of VNISs were still infected over the period of study. This study demonstrates that control of HPV requires more than just safe sex practices, and reiterates the necessity of vaccination in preventing HPV infections, and more importantly, HPV related cancers.
-Cole Holderman
Sources:
1. Article in the Journal of Infectious Disease: Acquisition, Persistence, and Clearance of Human Papillomavirus Infection among Male Virgins Residing in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States: https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jix588/4641715
2. Science News Article: Male virgins can still acquire HPV, study finds: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171213115820.htm
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