Causes of penile cancer
Main causes of penile cancer
Roughly half of all penile cancers are caused by certain types of a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
There are different types of HPV and some affect the genital area.
You can get HPV from:
- any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
- vaginal, anal or oral sex
- sharing sex toys
Most people affected by HPV will not get penile cancer.
Who is more likely to get penile cancer
Penile cancer is most common in men over the age of 50. It can affect anyone with a penis.
You might also be more likely to get penile cancer if you:
- smoke
- have problems pulling back your foreskin (the skin covering your penis) to keep your penis clean (a condition called phimosis)
- have or had treatment for psoriasis with medicines called psoralens and an ultraviolet (UVA) light source (called PUVA treatment)
- have a weakened immune system because of a condition like HIV
Find out more
How to lower your chance of getting penile cancer
You cannot always prevent penile cancer. But you may be able to lower your chances of getting it.
Do
-
protect yourself from getting HPV by getting the HPV vaccination if you can
-
use condoms when having any kind of sex, to lower your chances of getting HPV
-
stop smoking
-
have a circumcision if you have phimosis and this is recommended to treat it
It's important to get any symptoms of penile cancer checked by a GP.
Page last reviewed: 9 April 2024
Next review due: 9 April 2027