Health experts in the UK are highlighting a growing concern about HPV-related head and neck cancers. Recent data shows that men make up about two in three new cases, raising interest in why the risk is higher for them than for women.

HPV is extremely common, and most people will come into contact with it at some point in their lives. Many clear the virus naturally within a year or two. But some high-risk strains can remain in the body for decades and slowly lead to cancers in the throat and the back of the mouth. Rates of these cancers have increased in recent years, especially among men.

Karis Betts, a cancer epidemiologist at Cancer Research UK, explains that this pattern reflects both past and present behavior. For many years, smoking and heavy drinking were more common among men, and both habits significantly raise the risk of head and neck cancers. Betts also notes that HPV exposure varies across different groups. Men who have sex with men face a slightly higher risk, which is why vaccination is offered to them up to age 40.

Although HPV spreads through close skin contact, Betts emphasizes that the most effective protections are vaccination and cervical screening. She adds that the biggest steps people can take to lower their overall cancer risk are to avoid smoking or to quit, and to reduce alcohol use. These actions offer far greater benefits than worrying about past HPV exposure.

While head and neck cancers make up a small share of total cases in the UK, early awareness and timely medical care remain important.