HPV increases risk of male infertility

Human papillomavirus is often considered a health risk for women because it can cause cervical cancer, but a recent study suggests that the virus may also pose health risks to men.

According to research published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, certain types of human papillomavirus have been found to affect male fertility.

Dr. Virginia Rivero, who led the research team at the National University of Cordoba in Argentina, said men infected with certain types of HPV had increased sperm death due to oxidative problems and a weaker immune response in the urinary and reproductive pathways.

She added in a statement to HealthDay, a website specializing in medical research, that the results suggest that men may become infertile due to the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children ages 9 to 14 get the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active and are at increased risk for contracting the virus.

However, statistics show that the HPV vaccination rate among boys in the United States is lower than that among girls. A study conducted in 2022 showed that the HPV vaccination rate among girls reached 65%, while that among boys was 61%.

As part of the study, researchers examined semen samples from 27 men infected with the virus and 43 men who were not infected with the virus and found that of the 27 infected men, 20 of them carried the type of virus that increases the risk of cancer of the reproductive organs, anus, mouth and throat.