Genital Warts in Men (HPV Virus) (cont.)
Male HPV: The Symptoms
The types of high-risk HPV that can cause cancer
rarely present any symptoms in men or in women. Genital warts are the first
symptom you may see with low-risk HPV strains that cause warts but not cancer.
Tests for HPV Virus in Men
To diagnose genital warts in men, the doctor will
visually check a man's genital area to see if warts are present. Some doctors
will apply a vinegar solution to help identify warts that aren't raised and
visible. But the test is not foolproof. Sometimes normal skin is mistakenly
identified as a wart.
There is no routine test for men to check for high-risk HPV strains that can
cause cancer. However, some doctors are urging anal Pap tests for gay and
bisexual men, who are at higher risk of anal cancer caused by HPV. In an anal
Pap test, the doctor collects cells from the anus, and then has them checked for
abnormalities in a lab.
Treatments for HPV
There is no treatment for asymptomatic HPV infection.
Instead, doctors treat the health problems that are caused by the HPV virus.
When genital warts appear, a variety of treatments can be used. The patient
can apply prescription creams at home. Or a doctor can surgically remove or
freeze off the warts.
Early treatment of warts is discouraged by some doctors because genital warts
can go away on their own. It can also take time for all warts to appear. So a
person who treats warts as soon as they appear may need another treatment later
on.
Anal cancer can be treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. The
specific treatments depend on the stage of cancer - how big the tumor is and how
far the cancer has spread.
HPV Vaccine for Men?
The HPV vaccine Gardasil, approved for use in women in
2006, is not yet approved for men.
Studies are still being done to determine if the vaccine works in males.
Eventually, public health experts say, boys and men may be vaccinated.
Next: How to manage HPV in a relationship »
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