HPV in men: signs and symptoms

Human papillomavirus is a common virus that is spread through having anal, oral or vaginal, sex with someone who has HPV. It affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. More than 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV that are known to cause disease, which is only a subset of HPV strains. Some types of HPV infections cause cancer.

Often, HPV is discussed in relation to women’s health. It took three years longer for HPV vaccines to be approved for boys after they became available and approved for girls. But HPV also commonly affects men. While more than 21,000 HPV associated cancers are in men on average, 16,000 of those cases are estimated to be caused by HPV.

In this article, you can learn more about recognizing the symptoms of HPV in men, understand its risks and gain insight on prevention and treatment options.

In this article:

Understanding HPV

Let’s start out with a basic primer on what this virus is and how it works.

What is HPV?

HPV is a general term for a group of over 200 related viruses. HPV is separate from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). HPV viruses are transmitted via intimate skin-to-skin contact. They’re also very common: almost all sexually active people get an HPV infection after becoming sexually active.

Types of HPV

There are two groups of HPV: low risk and high risk. Sometimes, these two types are called “non-oncogenic” (low-risk or wart-causing HPV) and “oncogenic” (high-risk or cancer-causing HPV).

Low-risk HPV may cause genital warts, but the infection usually goes away on its own. High-risk HPV, however, can cause multiple types of cancer. Twelve types of HPV are considered high risk. HPV 16 and HPV 18 cause the majority of HPV related cancers.

Transmission of HPV

HPV can be transmitted through sexual contact with someone who has the virus. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, regardless of gender identity, sex or sexual orientation. Someone can get HPV even if they’ve only had sex with one person, and they might not begin to have symptoms until years later.

Prevalence of HPV in men

HPV is prevalent in men over 15 years old. Worldwide, nearly one in three men have at least one type of genital HPV. One in five men are infected with at least one type of high-risk HPV, making this a serious men’s health issue.

Risk factors for men

Young, sexually active heterosexual males are at a higher risk for becoming infected with HPV if they have had a high number of sexual partners (both across their entire lifetime and recently). Being uncircumcised and engaging in condomless sex can also place men at a higher risk for oncogenic and overall HPV.

Symptoms and health issues

Low-risk and high-risk HPV cause different symptoms and health issues.

Common symptoms of HPV in men

Many people who have HPV never have symptoms or health problems from the virus. In fact, 9 out of 10 cases of HPV go away by themselves within two years.

If someone develops symptoms from an HPV infection, however, low-risk HPV is likely to cause warts around the genital area, mouth or throat. These warts will probably look like small bumps that can be raised or flat.

While high-risk HPV doesn’t necessarily cause symptoms on its own, high-risk HPV can lead to cancer down the road. These precancers and cancers can cause symptoms such as bleeding, lumps and pain.

Potential health complications of HPV

HPV itself is not a cancer. It is a virus. However, some types of HPV can cause cancer.

Since HPV infects squamous cells (thin cells that line the surface of our skin and the inner surfaces of organs), the majority of HPV-related cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Others (certain cervical cancers) are adenocarcinomas.

HPV can lead to anal, penile and throat cancer:

• Over 90% of anal cancer is caused by HPV
• 70% of oropharyngeal (throat) cancer is caused by HPV
• 63% of penile cancer is caused by HPV
• 75% of vaginal cancer is caused by HPV
• 69% of vulvar cancer is caused by HPV

Diagnosis and screening for HPV in men

Currently, there is no specific way to test directly for HPV in men that is approved for clinical use. There are also no effective screening tests for any HPV-related cancers other than cervical cancer. If someone is experiencing any symptoms that are out of the ordinary, it’s important to let a health care provider know.

Men can be screened for lesions and warts. An anal Papanicolaou test (also known as a Pap smear), for example, is a method of finding precancerous anal lesions.

HPV treatment options

There is no treatment for HPV itself. But if HPV causes additional health problems for someone, such as cancer or warts, they can work with their health care provider to treat these issues.

Prescription medication, cryosurgery (freezing off the warts) or excision (cutting out the warts) are often used as treatment for genital warts.

HPV related cancers can be treated most effectively when they are found early.

Prevention strategies

The only way to prevent HPV entirely is to avoid sexual contact. However, people can use strategies like receiving the HPV vaccine and using condoms regularly and correctly to reduce the risk of transmission.

HPV vaccination

The HPV vaccine is estimated to prevent up to 90% of cancers caused by HPV infection and genital warts. The vaccination is most effective at preventing new HPV infections and HPV associated cancers when it is administered to children between the ages of 11 and 12. The vaccine is a series involving two to three doses, depending on what age the first dose is received.

One study discovered that men who had received the HPV vaccine had lower rates of HPV-related cancers as well as head and neck cancers.

Safe sexual practices

Using condoms regularly and correctly is another way to help prevent HPV infections. Studies have shown that consistent condom use leads to a reduction in overall HPV risk. However, to effectively prevent the transmission of HPV, it is crucial to use condoms correctly.

What to know about HPV in men

HPV in men is extremely common and can be transmitted through anal, oral or vaginal sex among others. While many cases of HPV go away on their own, others are more serious, leading to health problems like cancer. Prevention strategies for HPV include the HPV vaccine and correct condom usage.

Frequently asked questions

What are the signs of HPV in men?

Most men with HPV do not exhibit any symptoms. However, low-risk types of HPV can cause genital warts, which are small bumps or groups of bumps in the genital area.

Does HPV go away in men?

In many cases, HPV infections clear up on their own within two years. But if someone has high-risk HPV, the infection can persist and lead to more serious health issues, such as cancer.

Can my partner get HPV if I have it?

Yes. HPV is highly transmissible through sexual contact, even if someone does not have visible symptoms.

How dangerous is HPV for men?

While many HPV infections do not cause symptoms, certain high-risk types can lead to cancers of the anus, penis and throat.

Can a man give a woman HPV?

Yes. HPV can be transmitted from men to women through sexual contact.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.