Much of the information about human papillomavirus (HPV) focuses on women because having the virus increases their risk of getting cervical cancer. But HPV can cause health problems in men, too. It's important for men to understand how to reduce the risks of HPV infection.
HPV infection can increase a man's risk of getting genital cancers, although these cancers are not common. HPV can also cause genital warts in men, just as in women.
Nearly all men who are sexually active in the U.S. will have HPV at some time in their life if they are not vaccinated. Often, men will clear the virus on their own, with no health problems.
Risks of HPV Infection in Men
Some of the types of HPV linked to genital cancers can lead to cancer of the anus or penis in men. Both of these cancer types are rare, especially in men with a healthy immune system. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that each year about 2,260 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer of the penis , and 3,200 men will be diagnosed with anal cancer.
The risk of anal cancer is about 17 times higher in sexually active gay and bisexual men than in men who have sex only with women. Men who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are also at higher risk of getting this cancer.
Most cancers that are found in the back of the throat, including at the base of the tongue and in the tonsils, are HPV-related. In fact, these are the most common HPV-related cancers found in men. More than 15,000 new cases are diagnosed in men each year.
Other types of HPV virus rarely cause cancer in men, but they do cause genital warts. At any given point in time, about 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. will have genital warts.
The Symptoms of HPV in Men
The types of high-risk HPV that can cause cancer rarely present any symptoms in men or women. Genital warts are the first symptom you may see with low-risk HPV strains that cause warts but not cancer.
Causes of HPV Infection in Men
HPV in men is mostly caused by skin-to-skin contact with another person who has the virus. Because the virus is common and most often presents with no symptoms, most people pass it on to their sexual partners without ever realizing they are infected. It can spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Some factors can make certain men more likely to get HPV infections, such as:
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Being uncircumcised
- Age (young adult or adolescent)
- Having a weakened immune system
Tests for HPV Infection 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. But 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 has them checked for abnormalities in a lab.
Treatments for HPV Infection in Men
There is no treatment for HPV infection in men when no symptoms are present. Instead, doctors treat the health problems that are caused by the HPV.
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?
In the U.S., Gardasil 9 is available to prevent HPV infection and cervical and anal cancers. It can be given to men and women between the ages of 9 and 45. The ideal age to receive the vaccine is before you are sexually active. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine as part of the regular series of vaccines at ages 11 and 12.
HPV vaccine dosing schedule
Age Range | Dosing Schedule |
9-15 | Two doses, 6-12 months apart |
15-26 | Three doses, over 6-month period |
27-45 | Three doses, over 6-month period; consult with your doctor |
If you are older than 26 years, you can talk to your doctor to help determine if the HPV vaccine is right for you.
How to Manage HPV in a Relationship
If a man's long-term sexual partner has HPV, it is likely that HPV transmission has already occurred and that they also have it. HPV in men may clear from the body more easily than in women. Women, in general, often clear the virus in two years or less.
The HPV types associated with cervical cancer usually do not cause health problems for a heterosexual man having sex with an HPV-infected woman.
If a partner has HPV, it does not necessarily mean they have had sex with someone else recently. The virus can lay dormant in the body for years without causing noticeable symptoms.
How to Prevent Spreading HPV
Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent HPV transmission. Risk of transmission can be lowered if a person has sex only with one person who is not infected and who is also monogamous.
To lower the risk of HPV transmission, men can also limit the number of sex partners and pick partners who have had few or no partners in the past.
Condoms can provide some protection against HPV transmission. But they aren't 100% effective, as HPV is transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact. The virus can still infect the skin uncovered by the condom.
In a recent study of young women who had just become sexually active, those whose partners used a condom each time they had sex were 70% less likely to get an HPV infection than the women whose partners used a condom less than 5% of the time.
Takeaways
Human papillomavirus (HPV) isn't just a women's health issue. Nearly all sexually active men in the U.S. will get HPV at some point in their life if they are not vaccinated. Most men clear it on their own, but it can sometimes lead to genital warts or, more rarely, cancers of the anus, penis, or throat. But there is a vaccine that can help prevent HPV infection in men and women up to age 45.
HPV in Men FAQs
What are the warning signs of HPV-related throat cancer in men?
The most common symptom of HPV-related throat cancer in men is a painless lump in the neck. This can sometimes be mistaken for an infection. If it gets bigger, it may start pressing on nerves, which can cause pain in your ears or jaw. If you have a lump in your neck that doesn't go away or gets bigger, talk to your doctor.
Does having HPV affect a man's fertility or sperm quality?
Research is mixed on how much HPV can affect a man's fertility. But studies have shown that HPV can affect a man's sperm quality, from sperm movement and shape to sperm counts. It can also trigger the body to make antibodies that attack sperm.
How long does it take for a man's immune system to clear HPV?
It can take a year or more for a man with a healthy immune system and no other health issues to clear HPV from his immune system. For most men (nearly 75%) it can take less than a year.
Is the HPV vaccine effective if a man has already been exposed to the virus?
The HPV vaccine prevents new infections, but it doesn't treat existing infections. However, even if you've been exposed to one strain of HPV, the vaccine may protect you from others.
