A new survey reveals shocking misconceptions about the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is more common in men than women and is a leading cause of rising rates of throat and tongue cancers. Many people remain unaware of its dangers, but experts warn that without increased vaccination rates, these preventable cancers will continue to surge.

HPV isn't just a concern for women—it's actually more common among men and is driving an increase in dangerous cancers, including throat and tongue cancers.

A new survey shows there are huge gaps in public knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV), with many mistakenly believing it only affects women or that symptoms warn them of it. Experts emphasize that vaccination can prevent up to 90% of such cancers, but very few people are vaccinated. With human papillomavirus-related cancers rising rapidly, especially among middle-aged men, awareness and action are more important than ever.

Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) is most closely associated with cervical cancer risk in women, the virus is actually more common in men than women and has been linked to increased rates of other cancers that directly affect men. A new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Soloway Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) shows that most people don't know this.

The survey aimed to gauge public awareness of this ubiquitous but often misunderstood virus, including how it is transmitted and its link to cancer risk.

The findings are clear - most respondents have limited knowledge of human papillomavirus and its long-term health risks. Many people also have misconceptions about how the virus is spread. OSUCCC-James Cancer Control Fellow Dr. Electra Paskett believes this lack of understanding puts countless people at avoidable risk of contracting HPV-related cancers.

"We have a vaccine that has been shown to reduce the risk of human papillomavirus infection by up to 90 percent," Pasket said. "This is a powerful tool for preventing cancer that has only emerged in the past few decades, and we are now seeing the impact of these vaccines through scientific data."

This survey asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with some basic statements about HPV to understand the public's understanding of HPV. Survey results show that many people believe the infection affects women more than men.

Paskit is also the Marion N. Rowley Professor of Cancer Research and professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Shocking findings

Specific results of the investigation include:

Nearly half of respondents (45%) did not know whether HPV is related to cancers other than cervical cancer.

Fact: Human papillomavirus is a major risk factor for cervical cancer but is also associated with increased rates of cancers of the tonsils, base of tongue, throat, neck, esophagus, anus and genitals, according to peer-reviewed scientific data.

42% believed that human papillomavirus is more common in women.

Fact: According to the CDC, HPV is more common in men, but because there are only tests for women, people mistakenly believe that HPV only affects women.

40% of people believed that symptoms would occur if they were infected with human papillomavirus.

Fact: Many people do not experience symptoms until they have cancer.

The power of prevention: The life-saving potential of the HPV vaccine

Pasket noted that while the HPV vaccine is recommended for maximum effectiveness between the ages of 9 and 12 (before possible exposure to the HPV virus), it can now be given to adults as young as 45.

Although the vaccine has been available since 2006, efforts to prevent these cancers have been slow due to insufficient understanding that it can prevent late-stage cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that timely vaccination against human papillomavirus can prevent 90% of cervical cancers, but only about half (56.9%) of eligible children are vaccinated. Of these, more girls and women than boys and men are vaccinated.

Human papillomavirus-related cancers on the rise

Currently, approximately 42 million people are infected with HPV, and most Americans (98%) have been exposed to the virus. The virus is spread through sexual contact (saliva or ejaculate) and can also be spread during childbirth. But if the immune system cannot kill the virus, the cells can turn into cancer.

OSUCCC-James head and neck surgeon Matthew Old noted that the rapidly rising incidence of oropharyngeal (tonsils and base of tongue) cancers related to human papillomavirus is alarming.

Recent estimates suggest that oropharyngeal cancer may become one of the top three cancers among middle-aged men in the United States by 2045, and become the most common cancer among older men within the next decade.

Lao said: "The genetic changes caused by human papillomavirus can take years or even decades to take effect and transform into cancer. Once exposed, there is currently no treatment for human papillomavirus infection, and many unvaccinated people unknowingly carry and spread high-risk strains of the virus. This is why vaccination is so important."

Survey methods

This study was conducted by SSRS on its OpinionPanelOmnibus platform. SSRSOpinionPanelOmnibus is a national probability-based survey conducted twice monthly. Data collection was conducted from February 7 to 9, 2025, and the sampling target was 1,005 respondents. The survey was conducted in English online (975 people) and by phone (30 people). At a 95% confidence level, the margin of error for the total number of respondents is +/-3.8 percentage points. All SSRS poll aggregate data are weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults age 18 or older.

Compiled from /ScitechDaily