Sep 02, 2026 15:05:00

HPV vaccination may reduce the risk of head and neck cancer in both women and men.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to be a major cause of cervical cancer and other cancers, and it has been shown that HPV vaccination significantly reduces the incidence of cancer in women . New research suggests that HPV vaccination may reduce the risk of head and neck cancers , including oral and throat cancers, not only in women but also in men.

HPV Vaccination and Risk of Head and Neck Cancers: A Large Real-World Cohort Study - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(26)00702-2/fulltext

HPV Vaccine Linked to 69% Lower Risk of Head And Neck Cancer : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/20-years-ago-women-got-a-preventative-cancer-treatment-now-its-protecting-men-too

HPV is the most common virus in the world transmitted through sexual contact, and it is estimated that more than 50% of sexually active women will be infected at least once in their lifetime. Generally, infection with HPV does not cause symptoms, and the virus is cleared from the body within two years, but in some cases, the infection can persist and lead to cancer.

Cervical cancer is well-known as a cancer caused by HPV, but it can also cause cancer in other parts of the body. In 2018, it is estimated that there were 690,000 cases of HPV-related cancer worldwide, of which 620,000 were in women and 70,000 in men.

One type of cancer caused by HPV is head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer is a general term for cancers that develop in the area from the base of the skull to above the collarbone, and this area includes the nose, sinuses, oral cavity, larynx, salivary glands, and thyroid gland.

A new study compared cancer incidence rates in people who received the HPV vaccine and those who did not, using anonymized data collected from 66 healthcare facilities in the United States. The analysis included over 1.4 million people aged 9 to 45 living in the United States.

Half of the subjects were in the vaccinated group (HPV vaccine recipients), and the other half were in the control group (unvaccinated). While there were slightly more female subjects, the percentages were still only 53.9% in the vaccinated group and 55.1% in the control group, indicating that a significant number of men had also received the HPV vaccine.

The analysis revealed that 40 cases of head and neck cancer developed within 10 years of vaccination in the HPV vaccination group, compared to 130 cases in the control group during the same period. This represents a difference of approximately 70%, with the risk reduction being particularly significant in younger age groups aged 9 to 26. Looking at the cancer sites, the risk of

oropharyngeal cancer , which develops in the middle part of the pharynx from the back of the nose to the esophagus, was particularly reduced.

This study suggests that vaccinating men as well as women with HPV may reduce their risk of developing cancer. End HPV Global, an organization that promotes HPV vaccination, stated, 'From an epidemiological standpoint, it is illogical to vaccinate only women when both men and women are at risk of HPV infection,' and is calling for men to also be vaccinated with HPV.

The research team concluded, 'This study demonstrates a consistent and significant association between HPV vaccination and a reduced risk of head and neck cancer, particularly among younger individuals, across gender and racial subgroups.'