Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and a primary cause of cervical cancer, responsible for 99.7% of cases. While women bear the greatest burden—especially due to cervical cancer—the reality is that HPV affects all genders through a wide range of serious health outcomes, including:
Anal cancer (common among both sexes but more prevalent in men who have sex with men),
Penile cancer in men,
Vaginal and vulvar cancers in women,
Oropharyngeal cancer, increasingly diagnosed in men,
Genital warts, affecting both sexes.
Thus, the term HPV-related diseases encompasses more than just cervical cancer. Men can contract, transmit, and suffer from HPV-related conditions, and yet remain largely absent from public prevention efforts in countries like the Philippines.
Who Protects the Others? The Gap in Current HPV Strategies
In the Philippines, free HPV vaccination under the National Immunization Program (NIP) is currently limited to girls aged 9–14, administered through public school-based programs. This leaves boys, men, and individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGIESC) underserved.
Who then takes care of the boys, men, LGBTQIA+ persons, and other vulnerable populations?
Understanding HPV and Its Deadly Impact
There are over 200 known types of HPV, with about 14 high-risk types capable of causing cancer. A persistent infection with these high-risk strains is a necessary cause of cervical cancer—a disease that kills 12 Filipinas every single day, according to WHO estimates.
Despite this, access to HPV prevention and care remains unequal due to gendered health policies, lack of awareness, and entrenched social norms.
What Is Gender Mainstreaming?
As defined by the United Nations, gender mainstreaming is:
“The process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action… in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy for making the concerns and experiences of all genders an integral part of policies and programs.”
In HPV prevention, this means:
Including gender perspectives at every level of public health planning and implementation,
Acknowledging how gender norms affect HPV vulnerability and healthcare access,
Ensuring equitable protection and treatment across all gender identities.
Why Gender Mainstreaming Matters for HPV Prevention
HPV prevention hinges on three main strategies: vaccination, screening, and treatment. Among these, vaccination has the strongest long-term impact on eliminating cervical and other HPV-related cancers.
The Philippine Department of Health Omnibus Health Guidlines recommends HPV vaccination for everyone up to 26 years old, regardless of gender. However, the current NIP only covers girls 9–14, using the quadrivalent vaccine (HPV-4) in a two-dose schedule.
This policy gap leaves millions of boys, men, and at-risk groups unvaccinated and unprotected.
Call to Action: Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccination Policies
Through gender mainstreaming, we can:
✅ Include boys in the national immunization program,
✅ Support catch-up vaccination for individuals up to age 26,
✅ Prioritize vulnerable and high-risk groups like men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender individuals, and sex workers.
Centering Marginalized Communities
HPV-related anal cancer is significantly more common among MSM and transgender individuals—yet these groups are often excluded from research and services due to stigma, lack of data, and policy neglect.
Gender-responsive HPV strategies must:
Recognize intersectionality in public health,
Implement targeted outreach and inclusive education,
Ensure anti-discrimination laws and protections that enable access to care.
Funding Gender-Responsive HPV Programs: An Untapped Opportunity
As a radiation oncologist and public health advocate, I’ve partnered with numerous local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines to expand cervical cancer screening. But only recently did I discover that LGUs can tap into GAD (Gender and Development) funds to expand HPV vaccination programs.
💡 Did you know? The 2024 national GAD budget allocation reached ₱807.6 billion, but only 55% was utilized.
Imagine the impact if even a fraction of this unutilized budget went to gender-neutral HPV vaccination, public awareness campaigns, and inclusive screening programs.
Conclusion: Toward Inclusive and Equitable Health for All
The time has come to mainstream gender in HPV prevention, not just in rhetoric but in real, measurable action. HPV is not a women’s issue—it is a public health issue that demands inclusive, data-driven, and gender-responsive solutions.
Let’s eliminate cervical cancer and all HPV-related diseases together—with equity, science, and compassion leading the way.
✉️ For consultations, training, and program development, contact:
Dr. Bogs Rivera
Founder, End Cervical Cancer Philippines
📧 bogsrivera@endcervicalcancerph.com
🌐 https://endcervicalcancerph.com
The author would like to thank…
