Gay Men, HPV and Anal Cancer

The Center for Disease Control pegs HPV (or the human papillomavirus) as the most common STD in the States with over 6.2 million people infected each year. HPV isn't your mild run-to-the-clinic STD; the virus can cause cervical and anal cancer.

Most of the commercials and public health announcements in the media focus on women and the link between HPV and cervical cancer. However, gay men are also at risk of contracting HPV and developing anal cancer.

According to a gay.com report, there is an annual rate of approximately 35 cases of anal cancer per 100,000. The figure doubles in people living with HIV.

So, how is HPV contracted?

Cancer expert Lisa Fayed says, "No penetration is needed to contract the virus. It is transmitted through sexual skin to skin contact. Examples would be genital to genital contact, touching your own genitals then someone else, sharing sex toys, and oral sex (rarely). Condoms provide very limited protection because there are parts of the genitals that remain exposed when they are worn. But, studies do show that condoms do provide some protection."



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