Jakarta (ANTARA) – Human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer in women, apparently can also attack men, as explained by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Oncology and Gynecology Association (HOGI) Prof. Dr. dr. Andrijono, SpOG, K-onk.
“Apart from causing cervical cancer in women, the HPV virus can also cause several skin and genital diseases in men,” Andrijono said in a webinar entitled “Protect Yourself and Your Beloved From Cervical Cancer” on Saturday (30/1).
Also read: The risk of cancer patients is high due to stress
Also read: Cervical cancer does not mean a death sentence
Reporting from the page of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV can be transmitted through intimate contact. Therefore, men can be exposed to the virus that causes cervical cancer if they have sex with someone who is infected with HPV.
Andrijono who practices at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) explained that a person can be infected with HPV without showing any specific symptoms or signs.
Most HPV infections in men go away on their own and don’t cause any health problems. However, if the infection does not go away, it is possible that HPV symptoms develop several months or years after infection.
This makes it difficult for men to know exactly when they are infected. Long-lasting HPV infection can cause genital warts or certain types of cancer. It is not known why some men who are exposed to HPV recover on their own, but some develop serious health problems.
Most men who get HPV never show symptoms and the infection usually goes away on its own. However, if HPV doesn’t go away, it can lead to genital warts or certain types of cancer.
A skin and venereal disease specialist recommends that a man should immediately see a doctor if he has skin problems in the genital area such as warts, lumps or sores on the penis, scrotum, anus, mouth, and even throat.
“All of this can be prevented by primary prevention in the form of HPV vaccination, because this prevention has been proven to have succeeded in reducing the number of cervical cancer cases by 40 percent,” said Andrijono.
Not only women, men are also recommended to get the HPV vaccine as a form of preventing the spread of the virus.
The HPV vaccine is stated by many experts to have been proven safe and effective to protect men from warts and certain cancers caused by HPV.
Ideally, a person should get the HPV vaccination before having sex for the first time. WHO recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years (or can be started at age 9 years) and for everyone up to age 26 years.
Also read: Unusual vaginal discharge could be a symptom of cervical cancer
Also read: When do girls need to be given the HPV vaccine?
Also read: Cervical cancer can be prevented through early detection
Reporter: Maria Rosari Dwi Putri
Editor: Alviansyah Pasaribu
COPYRIGHT © BETWEEN 2021
–
