HPV Testing for Men

Overview

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women, although there is only a vaccination for women. According to the CDC, most strains of HPV pass through a man's system without the need for treatment. However, certain strains of HPV can cause a number of health conditions, ranging from mild to life-threatening. As of August 2009, no HPV test is available for men. However, HPV can be identified through the presence of genital warts, anal and penile cancer.

Annual Screenings

Unlike women, men do not have annual HPV screenings. Women have annual Pap smears, which test for the presence of cervical cancer, a result of two strains of HPV. However, HPV testing in men revolve around treating symptoms.

Genital Warts

According to the CDC, the genital warts caused by HPV appear either raised, flat or cauliflower-shaped. The warts start to show on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs and/or anus a few weeks or months after sexual contact. The HPV genital warts can be easily treated with medicine, surgery or freezing. Most warts are easily visible; flat warts can be identified with a vinegar solution. However, the vinegar solution can misdiagnose regular skin as a flat wart.

Anal Cancer

According to the CDC, anal cancer does not always have visible symptoms. Symptoms that can occur include changes in bowel habits and the shape of the patient's stool, swollen lymph nodes on the anus or groin, itching or discharge from the anus, and anal pain and bleeding.

Penile Cancer

Like anal cancer, penile cancer does not always display symptoms until the cancer has become very advanced, according to the CDC. Possible penile cancer symptoms are a build up of tissue around the penis, skin thickening, change in the penile skin color, all culminating in sores on the penis that are mainly painless; however, the penile sores can be painful and bleed in some patients.

Pap Smears

Since there is no HPV test specifically for men, the question has been raised about doing Pap smears. According to the CDC, certain men---gay, bisexual and HIV positive---are sometimes recommended by their doctors to undergo yearly anal Pap smears, since they are at a higher risk of developing HPV related cancers. A male Pap smear involves taking a sample from the anus; if abnormal cells are detected, they are removed by the doctor. However, the CDC does not recommend anal Pap smears due to lack of evidence on their effectiveness. According to the CDC, not enough clinical trials have been done to prove that cancer can be prevented by removing the abnormal cells.