In this Article

• HPV virus (genital warts ) in men introduction
• Risks of HPV virus in men
• Male HPV: The symptoms
• Tests for HPV virus in men
• Treatments for HPV
• Is there an HPV vaccine for men?
• How to manage HPV in a relationship
• How to prevent transmission of HPV
• Genital Warts in Men (HPV Virus) Glossary
• Genital Warts in Men (HPV Virus) Index

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.