Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infections in Men as a Factor for the Development of Cervical Cancer

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in males is comparable to females, although in men it is largely unknown. HPV infections may be connected with the development of carcinomas and other dermoepithelial changes such as intraepithelial neoplasia. Multidirectional studies have shown that chronic HPV infection is a necessary, though insufficient factor for the development of cervical cancer. Although men are regarded as the dominant vector of HPV transmission to their female sexual partners, they do not develop clinically significant HPV-related lesions and are usually asymptomatic during relatively short infections.