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

• Cancer Research UK: causes of penile cancer
• Macmillan Cancer Support: causes of penile cancer

You cannot always prevent penile cancer. But you may be able to lower your chances of getting it.

It is important to get any symptoms of penile cancer checked by a GP.