Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women. While the symptoms of HPV have been highlighted in women, men can also get genital warts and two types of cancer (penile and anal) from certain strains of HPV. However, men do not have an HPV test like women, nor can they receive the HPV vaccination Gardasil.
Testing for HPV
A test for detecting HPV in men is not available, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The only test for HPV is for the screening of cervical cancer in women. Both men and women are vulnerable to over forty strains of HPV, though only a few strains cause serious effects in men. The other strains of HPV usually go away without treatment or intervention. According to the CDC, if the lesser strains of HPV could be detected by a test, it may no longer be in the man's system after a few months. Consult with your doctor if you have concerns.
Checking for Genital Warts
The genital warts that are ofter caused by HPV can be treated with prescription medication or removed by surgery or freezing. According to the CDC, a test for HPV-caused genital warts is not available. Most genital warts are easily visible and can then be treated accordingly. For flat warts, a doctor can use a vinegar solution to find and treat them. However, the vinegar solution test is not 100 percent accurate. Sometimes, normal skin can be misdiagnosed as a flat wart.
Testing for Cancer
In rare cases, men can develop penile or anal cancer from HPV. For populations at high risk for anal cancer---gay or bisexual men and men who are HIV positive---they can get yearly anal Pap smears. If abnormal cells are found after doing the anal Pap smear, those cells can be removed. However, the CDC does not recommend an anal Pap smear, since it has not been clinically proven that the removal of abnormal cells can prevent the future development of anal cancer.
