How Do Doctors Test for HPV in Men

Introduction

Human papillomavirus, abbreviated as HPV, is a sexually transmitted disease. While most of the focus of HPV has been on women, men are still subject to infection. The only available vaccination for HPV is Gardasil, and as of 2009, it has received FDA approval only for women under the age of 26. In addition, the only test for HPV is a pap smear for women to test for the presence of cervical cancer. While there is no specific HPV tests for men, identifying symptoms of genital warts and certain cancers can help doctors identify HPV in men.

Screening for Genital Warts

Genital warts are the most identifiable symptom of HPV in men. According to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms of genital warts include growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs or arms; warts that are raised, flat or cauliflower-shaped; and the warts do not hurt. The warts begin to appear within weeks or months after contracting HPV. Genital warts will go away with medicine, surgery and freezing. To find genital warts that are not visible, a doctor will use a vinegar solution. When applied to the skin, the vinegar solution can show flat warts. However, doctors can misread normal skin as a flat wart.

Pap Smears for Men

Two forms of cancer can result from HPV in men: penile cancer and anal cancer. In both forms of cancers, symptoms may not always appear. In penile cancer, some patients may not display symptoms until the cancer is advanced. According to the CDC, the first signs of penile cancer are change in color around the penis, skin thickening and a buildup of tissue around the penis. In the later stages of penile cancer, growths or sores will appear on the penis. Most of the time the sores will be painless, according to the CDC; however, some men may have painful sores that bleed. Signs of anal cancer include anal bleeding, swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin area, changes in bowel habits and the shape of the stool. Some doctors have recommended anal pap smears for gay, bisexual and HIV positive men, as anal cancer is more prevalent in those populations. If abnormal cells are located, they can be removed. However, the CDC does not recommend anal pap smears. Not enough evidence has been found in clinical trials that the removal of abnormal cells prevents cancer from forming in the future. However, both penile and anal cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.