3 Male Habits That May Increase HPV-Related Cervical Cancer Risk in Partners
Cervical cancer is one of the cancers that can often be prevented, yet it continues to affect hundreds of thousands of women around the world every year. The vast majority of cervical cancer cases are linked to persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus that can be transmitted through sexual contact.
Although cervical cancer is not something that a man directly “causes” through a single habit, certain behaviors can influence the likelihood of HPV transmission or may contribute to conditions in which the infection persists. Understanding these factors can help both partners make better decisions about prevention.
1. Having Sex Without Protection
HPV can spread through intimate sexual contact, including contact with infected genital skin. Using condoms can lower the likelihood of HPV transmission, although condoms cannot provide complete protection because HPV can affect areas of skin that are not covered by a condom.
Having a new sexual partner can also increase the possibility of encountering HPV. Importantly, HPV is extremely common, and a person may carry the virus without knowing it because infections frequently produce no symptoms.
This means that HPV infection does not automatically indicate that someone has been unfaithful or that a recent partner transmitted it. The virus can remain unnoticed for a long period of time.
2. Smoking
Smoking is another important factor to consider. Tobacco exposure is associated with a greater risk of persistent HPV infection and cervical disease. WHO specifically notes that being a non-smoker or stopping smoking can reduce the chances of persistent HPV infection.
For couples, quitting smoking is therefore not only a general health decision but may also contribute to reducing factors associated with HPV persistence.
Secondhand smoke exposure can also be harmful, so creating a smoke-free home and environment is beneficial for everyone.
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